Silence Is Loud

Nia Archives

explicit

Released on 12/04/2024 by Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Main artists: Nia Archives
Genre: Electronic

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At only 24, Nia Archives (née Hunt) is reinventing an old rave favorite: jungle. She's even been anointed by the king of the '90s, Goldie, who intros the fuzzy, busy cut "Tell Me What It's Like?" off her debut LP Silence Is Loud. It's a passing of the baton that marks how far things have come; Goldie and DJs like Roni Size presided over a decidedly male scene, while Archives is part of an inclusive drum 'n' bass resurgence that includes Pink Pantheress and Piri. Both a DJ and a singer, Archives oversees rollicking beats layered them over soulful melodies—Amy Winehouse is a big influence—and bedroom-pop lyrics about unrequited love and looking for real connections. (Her merch includes a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Emotional Junglist.") She has already played Glastonbury and opened for Beyoncé's Renaissance tour, and captured attention in the summer of 2023 with "Off Wiv Ya Headz," a sonic blast that chopped up the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with breakbeats. After a flurry of singles and EPs, Silence Is Loud lives up to Archives' potential. The title track is a joyride time machine right back to '90s rave thrills. "Forbidden Feelingz" samples the 1970s Peter Falk detective show Columbo, adding a dash of dub and a trip-hop feel. Soulful thriller "F.A.M.I.L.Y." is a whirlwind of ominous deep-ditch bass, raucous beats, a ghoulish shriek and sound of gasping for breath. "Unfinished Business" delivers an unexpected blend of caffeinated emo-pop bounce, trilling woodwind and jungle breaks. "Crowded Roomz" freely pairs a soulful Winehouse vibe and skittering, can't-catch-me beat, as Archives mourns the paradox of feeling isolated at her shows, even as there are people everywhere: "I feel so lonely, especially in crowded rooms/ It's a facade, my persona is my costume … Misunderstood by everybody/ The party girl who's all alone, see." If you removed the beats, songs like "Cards on the Table" and string-enchanted "So Tell Me…" would sound a whole lot like folk-pop, while flute-laden "Out of Options" and "Blind Devotion"—which borrows a bit of dancehall melody—channel Frank era Winehouse. And Archives is a deeply appealing singer, as shown on feel-good "Nightmares" and "SIlence Is Loud (Reprise)," which actually strips away the mad beats to expose a Coldplay-style piano ballad. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz

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Silence Is Loud

Nia Archives

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Silence Is Loud