NAO.

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) – Call Signs EP

Lo! Sir Gilbert Walker said unto the world: ‘Let there be a classification of different atmospheric pressures’, and lo! North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) said unto Glasgow: ‘Let that be our name, and let us explore the outer-limits.’ And thus, in 2005, it was done, and NAO were born.

Four years later, and here we are, Call Signs EP, the precursor to the full LP set for release in 2010. It’s most definitely hot and cold, it’s most definitely outlandish, but by God it’s unoriginal. Performing under the pseudonym of NAO – hot and cold – Sam and Ben have built up an online grass-roots support. Then again, what’s that phrase about the internet...?

By humping genres and influences together, NAO have managed to become one of the least interesting things I’ve heard in months. Impressive in construction, but woefully unoriginal. Like a robotised Wayne Coyne being thrown through a drum-kit, this low octane ensemble have taken a grand jeté towards obscurity with their first mainstream release.

Opening track ‘Cell Count (Edit)’ is a Doves-esque smack in the head; throbbing baseline and creepy mellifluous vocals sit heavily on top of repetitive drums and some weird synth. When the refrain – “It’s amazing what they can do, it’s amazing what they can do...” – hits, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to We Can Have It by The Dears, but, well, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to a whole host of different things. Yes, they have borrowed heavily from around the global scene – Ceiling Poem could genuinely be taken from a Radiohead album – but it’s too easy to criticise them for this...

The title, however, can only go to the third track; I Only Have Eyes For You. Like the aborted foetus of Massive Attack and Portishead, it stumbles along, not really getting anywhere; its only redeeming feature being the mildly original – but very pleasing – vocals. Oh, look at that, I almost forgot to mention the indie-club filler 77 Hours (Engineers Mix). Well, there you go.

What we have here then is something you cannot actively dislike, because to dislike this is to dislike all music as a whole. You can appreciate the musician, and the pleasing voice, and the creation of the songs; but mainly you can appreciate how much you’d rather be listening to any of the other bands I’ve listed as being inseparable from this.

It’s the greatest drinking game ever invented. Every time you recognise an influence: drink. Fun, easy, and vomit-inducing capering. Fortunately, you’ll be so out of your head by the time you finish, you might not mind.

4/10