Being who we are, of course we want to approach NUMAN‘s new record Titular Character from the perspective of being an NPC or goofy side-quest character in a videogame. But the Thailand trio had bigger plans, cutting through metaphor entirely with their most introspective and focused offering yet.
There’s still a certain tranquil, airy quality that we expect from the band, but they seem so much more emotionally involved in every passing second, making for something that feels weighted, personal, and above all, real.
NUMAN has always made pretty music, but it seems they’ve started the next chapter, adding tons of depth and texture. Check it out below:
In a way, there’s an almost inescapable relatability to the band’s pondering. Everyone, everywhere relates to the general heroes arc, give or take a couple of steps. But NUMAN take it a step further in a literal sense when referring to Titular Character:
“Reaching the halfway point in life is a terrifying feeling. When you introduce a new baby human into your life, you can draw a distinct line between your ‘past’ and ‘next’ selves. Suddenly, you are no longer the main character or “Titular Character” in your story. If you weren’t the main character, which previous decisions would you be willing to live with going forward? Will you accept your life is never going to be the same again?”
Suddenly, the flashes of Pinback, pretend, and American Football make sense. The consistency isn’t just with the sound between these bands, it’s within their angst, which again, is generally universal. Or at least global. As these revelations explode in the second half, songs like “Part 2: Courage” and “The Unfolding Routine” almost demand repeat listens as you appreciate them instrumentally, then lyrically.
Whatever you call it, at this point NUMAN have done more than enough to warrant attention from the worlds of emo and post-rock, and something tells us they’re just getting started. Titular Character is short, but stands on its own as a unique experience that displays growth, experimentation, and dedication, and we’ll be sure to keep it in rotation the rest of the year.
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