NYC-based collective Paper Nova enthralls with a range of theatrical vocals, moody guitars, and adventurous rock dynamics throughout their new album, Black Whole. Christiana Wu’s layered delivery stands prominently across songs exploring political disillusionment, war, self-doubt, and empowerment, while the quartet’s blend of alternative rock, experimental, jazz, and classical influences keeps the songwriting unpredictable. She is joined by John Nguyen (guitar), Miguel Nuñez (drums), and Andre Classen (bass).
Twangy guitar mystique and a moody bass crawl open “Itsy Bitsy” as the album opens with stylish entrancement. Christiana Wu navigates with a quivering, melodic appeal while comparing the movements of a spider to someone caught in a “web of lies and vows.” Ensuing track “Spider” continues that metaphorical weight, here set within pulsing, more energized guitar work. The “gotchu ragin’ at me” hook is commanding in its halted guitar work and Wu’s ferocious delivery.
“Vlad, Damn You” arrives next and continues the album’s outstanding start. “I’ve never met a character like you,” Wu assumes a heightened pitch here, beckoning to “welcome me in” as glistening guitars arrive and then emerge into a multi-layered harmonic ardor: “Seal you with the sun (ya smokin’) / Damn you into dust (farewell).” The instrumentation, with its sturdy bass line and flashing guitars, delivers a touch of post-punk, reminding fondly of Interpol, though with Wu’s lead presence being uniquely riveting—especially in the soaring “ahh” sequence following the scathing “damn you into dust” proclamation.
Another delight, “Nightingale” shifts between nocturnal piano-fronted haunts and bursting rock intensity. A compelling central refrain (“Just because they’re made of gold / Doesn’t mean they have a soul”) speaks to shiny, surface-level polish that lacks genuine emotional resonance, criticisms that are apt coming from a band with a high level of artistry and dynamically tonal strengths. Full of immersive songwriting and creative structural shifts, Black Whole is a fantastic full-length from Paper Nova.
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“Vlad, Damn You” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
