Parasites & Butterflies
Georgia South gets an extraordinary range of sounds out of a bass guitar. On Parasites & Butterflies, those sounds help Nova Twins move between heavy rock, dance rhythms and softer passages without making the record feel divided. Amy Love's voice has just as much range, and the two make very good use of each other.
Glory opens with a wider, more dramatic vocal approach than you might expect. It gives the album a sense of scale before the rougher sounds arrive. Piranha is more direct, using a heavy groove and a sharp chorus to build its tension. The bass has a real role in the song's shape, rather than simply making the guitars sound larger.
Monsters is one of the clearest highlights. The chorus is immediate, but the writing makes room for fear of your own thoughts as well as threats outside you. That vulnerability gives the song more weight than another uncomplicated statement of strength would have had.
Soprano takes a brighter route, with vocal harmonies and a playful confidence that suit the record. Drip moves quickly through its rhythmic vocal delivery and dance-driven backing. Both songs show how comfortable the duo have become letting different influences share the same space.
The quieter Hummingbird is particularly good. Love's controlled performance gives the song about grief an intimate feel, and the unusual sounds around her don't distract from it. This is the point where the album's willingness to soften becomes a real strength. The heavier tracks gain something from having this sort of contrast nearby.
N.O.V.A brings a more obvious chant and a firm guitar riff, while Hurricane pushes the confidence forward again. Some of the larger statements are less detailed than the personal songs, but the performance keeps them involved. The record feels strongest when the character of the two musicians remains clear inside the big sound.
Parasites & Butterflies is adventurous without becoming difficult to follow. There are large hooks, inventive rhythms and plenty of weight, but also a growing ability to make the softer feelings count. Nova Twins have given their sound more room, and filled it well.
