Data Breaker

Nightmares on Wax (the long-running project led by George Evelyn, aka E.A.S.E.) have been on the Warp label since 1991—longer than any of its other artists. Which is kind of strange, as NOW are not the first, or second, or even tenth artist you think of when somebody mentions that storied English label. Even though Warp has expanded its stylistic horizons from its roots in bleepy, cerebral electronic music, it is still commonly regarded as the home of trailblazing, somewhat “difficult” artists like Autechre, Squarepusher, and, more recently, Flying Lotus and Battles.

NOW cannot be considered innovators, but they are consistently
rewarding producers with a vision they’ve burnished over six studio
albums and embellished over Evelyn’s three mix CDs (DJ-Kicks,
Late Night Tales, My Definition).

NOW’s debut LP, A Word of Science: The First and Final
Chapter (1991), revealed Evelyn and key collaborator Robin
Taylor-Firth‘s predilection for the soulful strains of techno,
house, and electro emerging from various American metropolises.
Surfacing in the bleary wake of the UK’s post-rave comedown, A Word
of Science retained some of that phase’s halcyonic glee (see
“Biofeedback” and “A Case of Funk”), but it also hinted at darker
feelings to come (especially “Back into Time,” with its exquisite
pitch-shifting of Steve Miller’s voice in “Fly Like an Eagle”). Other
tracks like “Aftermath,” “Coming Down,” and “Fun” displayed tricky
rhythms and headfucking samples and effects that surely freaked out
tripping clubbers back in the day.

NOW’s debut would prove to be an anomaly in their catalog, as they
downshifted into triphop’s more blunted tempos and atmospheres while
dabbling with reggae/dub rhythms and flaunting hiphop’s eclectic
sampling prowess—as well as working with rappers like De La Soul.
From 1995’s Smokers Delight through 2006’s In a Space Outta
Sound, NOW mapped out a buttery funk territory that created mental
images of infinite leisure time and cloudless, tropical days of
lounging and lunging loins. Evelyn and company imbued their sound with
an organic lushness and seductive languor that could help even the
ugliest Republican get laid (sorry for conjuring that
image)—check the spring-heeled lope of “Bless My Soul” (off
Smokers Delight) for irrefutable proof.

For NOW’s new full-length, thought so…, Evelyn moved
from his home in Leeds, England, to the Balearic island of Ibiza.
That idyllic, hedonistic spot, he says, influenced NOW’s latest
creation, and you can hear a slightly more carefree swing in NOW’s
rhythmic gait. Their output has never really contained much
(detrimental) tension, but thought so… is especially generous
with its fundamentally fun funkiness. An increased use of soulful,
joyful vocals (by Ricky Ranking, Chris Dawkins, Ella
May, and others) further makes this NOW’s most effective party
platter since their debut. Their long-overdue Seattle debut should be
head-nodding bliss for funk connoisseurs.

Nightmares on Wax perform with Zac
Hendrix on Sat Feb 7,
Chop Suey, 9 pm,
$15 adv/$17 DOS, 21+.