K-Pop Album Double-Take: Nell Nail Britpop Sound On 'Newton's Apple' [FULL ALBUM AUDIO]

The four-piece South Korean rock band Nell have been putting out records since 1999. Over the last 10 years, they have transitioned from a gloomy psychedelic rock to British-influenced pop.

It’s worth noting that these guys are doing it better than many of their British and American counterparts.

Nell’s most recent album, "Newton’s Apple" released in late-February, signals a big step forward in both musical sophistication and production quality for the band.

On "Newton's Apple" the members of Nell flaunt their influences openly. Obvious production references include Keane’s "Somewhere Only We Know," The Fray’s "How to Save a Life," Snow Patrol’s "Eyes Wide Open" and pretty much every Coldplay record (hold that groan please).

But there the way Nell's sound comes together on "Newton's Apple" forms a whole that is distinct from any of those aforementioned acts.

It’s got guitars that rock but don’t bite, a tasteful blend of live and sampled drums, layers of lush, fat synths, clean, ethereal vocals and loads of pop-production ear candy. It feels like a pop record, but you get the impression that it was still recorded as a band performing in a room, rather than a guy standing in front of a computer terminal.

Part of what initially got my attention with "Newton’s Apple" is that it’s self-produced.

Nell didn’t simply hire the producers and writers who made their favorite American and British records. Instead, they set themselves the task of proving to their audience they are just as adept at sound sculpting as they are at writing hooky songs—and for the most part, they succeeded.

The band's synthesizer work is sweet. Nell kicks off the album with “Decompose,” a lush and punchy instrumental synth track which nearly enters Brian Eno territory. Track two, “Fantasy,” smashes fast arpeggiated synths together with shimmering electric guitars and punchy drums--it's a successful formula. It’s easy for synthesizers to come off as cheesy, thin, harsh, buzzy or any other number of unpleasant things, but Nell has discovered how to use them to enhance what’s already good about the song, rather than obscure it.

“Memories of a Stranger,” is a guitar-oriented, soft rock ballad that shows off Nell’s ability to weave some Beatles-y harmonic ideas into a straightforward pop song.

And if you can get past the post-T-Pain auto-tune, the title track hooks you in with minimalist pop production and crooning, spacey vocals. If Chris Martin sang in Korean and Coldplay's "Mylo Xyloto" had a B-side, this track would be on it.

The upshot? "Newton’s Apple" is a work of tremendous competence, not artistic genius. At worst it’s too perfect, too clean and doesn’t take enough risks. But sometimes a truly competent record really hits the spot. It’s nice to see a band set out to do something that sounds great and not fail.

Listen to Nell's "Newton's Apple" RIGHT HERE

Harper Willis is a Brooklyn, New York-based producer and engineer. He has a passion for recording bands in crazy places, like ski mountains, motorcycle garages and swimming pools.

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