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New project from Jack Cooper (Ultimate Painting/Mazes), Will Young (BEAK>) plus Woods' Aaron Neveu and Sunwatchers' Jeff Tobias
MODERN NATURE
Presents Short Film How To Live?
Announce UK Live Dates in December and March
inc. London's Omeara on 4th March
Debut album, How To Live, is out now on Bella Union
Photo credit: James Sharp [Larger Image]
Along with an announcement of new live dates in December and March (see full dates below), Modern Nature presents How To Live?, a short film conceptualized by Jack Cooper. It follows their debut album, How To Live, which is out now on Bella Union. Cooper describes the film below:
“We recorded How To Live in July 2018. I’d spent the previous few months fleshing out my idea for the record, writing the songs and then Will and I built it all up in the spring. When we started tracking, we asked our friend James Sharp to come along and film us recording. I suppose there were some delusions of grandeur and a vague intention to make some kind of documentary that might help explain to people what we were aiming at. When we finished and time passed, the footage went on the back burner because we thought the album really spoke for itself. This short film and the music that accompanies it is meant to be something of a companion to the record... it’s nice to look back and see a snapshot of a band that only really existed for 2 weeks in July 2018, before it evolved into something else.”
The richness of the ideas in the songs on How To Live is matched by the resonance of the music. The organic compositions from Cooper and Will Young (Beak>) gain skin and muscle through the thoughtful cello of Rupert Gillett, the insistent drumming of Aaron Neveu (Woods), and the expressive saxophone of Jeff Tobias (Sunwatchers). The record evolved as these creative forces joined the group, and it shows. The entire album courses with both precision and vitality. The band is closely tuned to the core of each piece, but also unafraid to throw themselves into every moment. They’ve created their own complete world.
Modern Nature Live Dates:
Wednesday 8th December - Friendly Records End Of Year Party, Bristol UK
Friday 20th December - South Records End Of Year Party, Southend, UK
Tuesday 3rd March - Green Door Store, Brighton, UK (tickets)
Wednesday 4th March - Omeara, London, UK (tickets)
Saturday 7th March - Trix Bar, Antwerp, BE
Monday 9th March - Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL
Wednesday 11th March - Sala Vol, Barcelona, ES
Thursday 12th March - Siroco, Madrid, ES
Friday 13th March - Lata De Zinc, Oviedo, ES
Acclaim for Modern Nature:
“Jack Cooper has struck gold with his latest band, finding the missing link between Fairport Convention and Kraftwerk… A quietly atmospheric, transporting collection.”
The Times – 4 stars ****
“There’s a real ambition to Modern Nature’s debut album. Pastoral prog and horizon–chasing Krautrock push onwards, while organ drone and saxophone add to the exploratory mood.”
Q – 4 stars ****
“An open and expansive project, manifested in a sound that lashes woody, folky textures to an insistent motorik pulse.” Uncut – 8/10
“A creative evolution from Cooper’s previous music, with a quiet new clarity and purpose at play.” MOJO – 4 stars ****
“An album that takes the listener from a tense urban first half to a more restful rural ending… They are at their best on ‘Footsteps’, a fabulous blend of vocals, motorik drums and sax.”
Sunday Times
“On their smart, subdued debut, Jack Cooper and Will Young prize delicacy over punchy pop melodies, offsetting soft vocals with dissonant brass and background buzz.” The Guardian
“Taking their cues from the tender falsetto of Nick Drake, the free-form rhythms of Alice Coltrane and the rattling guitars of Radiohead, Modern Nature’s debut is a sprawling journey through an imagined natural landscape.” The Observer
“An endearing debut… Modern Nature feel like a long–lost cousin of Talk Talk or Wooden Shjips, as they combine simple guitars with motorik beats, soft synth pads and saxophone improvisations… Jack Cooper’s understated vocals only add to the album’s blissful allure… A compelling listen.” DIY – 4 stars ****
“Planted somewhere between Talk Talk and Tuung, the spacious arrangements, hushed vocals and dashes of saxophone and cello make their debut feel like a breath of fresh air.” Electronic Sound
“At their best, Modern Nature offer glimpses into the same enlightened place they accessed on their debut EP, where introspective folk songwriting and churning classical minimalism are one and the same.” - Pitchfork
“Takes the listener from an urban environment to rural escapism, the ten tracks here weave together pastoral ballads with gently looped guitars, Krautrock and atmospheric electronica.” Loud & Quiet
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