NOMO's roots are firmly planted in the fertile soil of African polyrhythm and American free jazz, and bandleader Elliot Bergman's tracks draw inspiration from cultures and generations wildly different than his home setting. Detroit producer Warren Defever (His Name Is Alive) was charged with capturing the band's live energy, and he shaped the sounds for maximum impact. New Tones, released last year on Ubiquity Records is a full-color, spiritual soundscape that marries the exotic with the gritty.
About NOMO's New Tones:
On New Tones, home-made Detroit electronics and huge horn sections blast big band funk and riotous jazz. NOMO's roots are firmly planted in the fertile soil of African polyrhythm and American free jazz, and bandleader Elliot Bergman's tracks draw inspiration from cultures and generations wildly different than his home setting. In many ways (at least geographically and sonically) NOMO are a distant relative of the TRIBE collective. Undoubtedly they carry the spirit of the legendary Detroit-label's creative output.
NOMO were signed to Ubiquity through interest in their little-known self-titled debut album, and on the back of an onslaught of persuasive emails from their fans (including Sam Valenti IV of Ghostly International fame) that the band puts on a must-see live show. Raw propulsive rhythms and infectious melodies carry a horn section and multilayered percussion that is part Tom Ze, M.I.A., Philip Cohran, P-Funk, Antibalas, Tortoise and Harry Partch. Enigmatic Detroit producer Warren Defever was charged with capturing the band's live energy, and he shaped the sounds for maximum impact. New Tones is a full-color, spiritual soundscape that marries the exotic with the gritty. NOMO's New Tones moves beyond the ecstatic to approach Bergman's vision of a transcendent, elemental sound--one that aims to move both bodies and spirits.
“We blend minimalist keyboard loops, fuzzed-out bass, soulful group vocals, and rolling blasts from an electric mbira," explains an enthusiastic Bergman. “Throw in a horn-led midnight funeral procession and hopefully you have a deep listen that's also a soul shaking dance party for the people!"
In 2004 Ypsilanti Records released NOMO's debut album and the band sold a few thousand copies (in the USA), mostly based on the strength of their live set. With the indie-press latching on to the band reviews came in from The Fader, XLR8R, Magnet, Blender, and the band even landed a spot on the Urb Next 100 list. Later in the Fall of 2005 P-vine would give the debut album a Japanese domestic release. Following that, Ghostly International released a Dabrye remix of “Not Wisely/Too Well", from the debut, on the Additional Productions vol.1 EP.
“The New Tones recordings are more intricate and nuanced than anything we've released," says Bergman. “The record features an arsenal of homemade percussion including the “electric sawblade-gamelan", “no-tone" shakers, and the “Nu-Tone cymbals"," he adds.
The band has a core of 8 multi-instrumentalists and their big steamrolling ensemble sound still leaves room for solo voices; Elliot Bergman (Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet, Synths, Rhodes, Electric Mbira etc), Erik Hall (Guitar and Percussion), Jamie Register (Bass and Singing), Dan Piccolo (Drumset, Canister), Olman Piedra (Congas and percussion), Dan Bennett (Saxophones), Ingrid Racine (trumpet), and Justin Walter (Trumpet). New Tones is the product of six months of recording at Midwest venues including Detroit's venerable United Sound Systems (as featured on the Luv N'Haight compilation Searching for Soul), Key Club Recording Company, Detroit's Orchestra Hall, and the NOMO basement. “Many band members lived together in Ann Arbor over a 5 year period. This place was ground zero for NOMO activity, housed rehearsals, and many a sweaty basement dance party," says Bergman. “In fact, we had lots of good shows there, from avant noise bands to folky sing-alongs to free jazz jams to electro."
Nu Tones is all original, except for “The Book of Right On" a cover of a track by Joanna Newsom. “She is a strange and wonderful singer/harpist who sounds like a baroque version of Bjork, or some strange Ancient/Future nymph singing...she's certainly an acquired taste, but one that I love," says Bergman. The album documents a 2-year period of incessant performing and rehearsing, playing in sweaty basements, indie rock bars, and radio stations. The band has played numerous festival stages with groups as diverse as Amp Fiddler, Sharon Jones, Numbers, and dB's. One of the highlights was playing to 4,000 people with Fred Anderson and Nicole Mitchell sitting in at the Chicago World Music Festival. The AACM collaboration carried through to the making of this record, which features Mitchell's otherworldly flute work on the opening track “Nu Tones", and then as the soloist on “We Do We Go" and “If You Want".
NOMO US Tour Dates
FRI 06/08: Detroit, MI @ Detroit Festival of the Arts
Midtown University Cultural Center
www.detroitfestival.com
FRI 06/15: Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finn's Pub
www.mickeyfinnspub.com
SAT 06/16: Ann Arbor, MI @ Top Of The Park Festival
E Washington & Fletcher St.
www.annarborsummerfestival.com/top.shtml
SUN 06/17: Grand Rapids, MI @ The DAAC
www.thedaac.org
MON 06/18: Iowa City, IA @ The Picador
330 East Washington Iowa City, IA 52240
www.thepicador.com
TUE 06/19: Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
6212 Maple Street
www.waitingroomlounge.com
THU 06/21: Denver, CO @ The Marquis Theater
FRI 06/22: Aspen, CO @ Aspen Jazz Festival
www.jazzaspen.com
TUE 06/24: Los Angeles, CA TBA
WED 06/25: Los Angeles, CA TBA
TUE 06/26: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of The Hill
1233 17th St. San Francisco, CA 94107 San Franciscowww.bottomofthehill.com
THU 06/28: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
830 E Burnside Street Portland, OR 97214
www.dougfirlounge.com
FRI 06/29: Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
5213 Ballard Ave NW Seattle, WA 98107
www.tractortavern.citysearch.com
MON 07/02: Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Ave South Minneaplolis, MN 55404
www.triplerocksocialclub.com
THU 07/05: Hamilton, ONT @ Pepper Jack Cafe
38 King William St. Hamilton, ONT L8N
www.pepperjackcafe.com
FRI 07/06: Toronto, ONT @ El Mocambo
494 Spadina Ave. Toronto, ON M5R
www.elmocambo.com
SAT 07/07: Montreal, QC @ Montreal Jazz Fest
www.montrealjazzfest.com
SUN 07/08: Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East Upstairs
480 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02139
www.mideastclub.com
MON 07/09: New York, NY @ Joe's Pub
425 Lafayette St. New York, NY 10003
www.joespub.com
WED 07/11: Washington DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
1353 H Street NE Washington DC 20002
www.rockandrollhoteldc.com
THU 07/12: Pittsburgh, PA @ Shadow Lounge
5972 Baum Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15206
www.7thmomement.net/shadow_lounge
FRI 07/13: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom Tavern
15711 Waterloo Rd. Cleveland, OH 44140
www.beachlandballroom.com
SUN 07/15: Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
1501 West Randolph Chicago, IL 60607
www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com
SAT 09/22: Albion, MI @ Festival of the Forks
Hannah St @ Veteran's Way Albion, MI 49224
www.festivaloftheforks.org
For more information contact All About Jazz.
