In this era of me liking Orville Peck a lot, Thomas
Nöla & the Black Hole
fill some sort of … void? … with Future
Illusions (among many other releases), a showcase for Nöla’s syrupy baritone. But instead
of hewing toward the country end of the spectrum, Nöla hangs out with the indie/synth downtrodden, at the smoky
urban clubs dives with low light and solitary drinkers. There they spin tales
of remorse and regret, while the people they wish they were pass by on the
streets outside. No wonder the cover of the tape features a hammer-smashed
frame containing an image of Nöla
– all that remorse and regret surely got to him enough that he couldn’t even
stand to look at himself!
I’d never let it get that bad.
But Future
Illusions is an engaging novel of a recorded release, with Nöla’s hangdog Matt Berninger
impression lending appropriate gravitas to each tragic tale of innocence lost.
It’s buoyed by synthesizers, acoustic guitar, and spare percussion, and
regardless of the arm’s length he tries to keep others from himself, Nöla compels you deeper into his hang-ups
and anxieties, his fetishes and fears. It’s a detailed account of navigating
mistakes and making mistakes while navigating them. It’s an RIYL beacon for all
you Orville and National fans out there.
It’s also seven years old – there’s so much more
Thomas Nöla & the Black
Hole music now than there was in 2013!
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