are back with their first full-length album, ‘Nocturne’. Delivered across a cinematic 50-minute listening experience showing a real growth in character for the sibling duo. Power, and energy are delivered considerably via Gao and Hardy’s signature piano and violin excellence. It’s difficult not to feel a ping of jealousy when you reckon with the fact that the instrumentals, vocals and artistry somehow come from two members of the same family.
The album’s opening track, ‘2515’, was the first single released ahead of the full project, fittingly, as it sonically encapsulates the album as a whole. Hardy’s entrancing vocals overlay classical strings and produced sounds for an energetic, but at times haunting, opener. Whilst the vocals remain constant throughout the track, the intensity of the drumbeat and Hardy’s strings crescendo throughout the chorus, whilst the grand sound of the piano comes to the fore during the verse. If you’re a fan of this track, you’ll love what the rest of the record has to offer.
‘Nocturne’s best trait is its ability to find balance, understanding when to lean into juxtapositions and when to allow sounds room to breathe. Across 12 tracks, you are carried through an interplay of isolating, haunting instrumentals, pop riffs boasting collective energy and electronic sounds. There’s further juxtaposition when you compare the record to the duo’s previous work. Somehow, this feels heavier than what has come previously in , whilst also boasting a sense of supreme weightlessness throughout. ‘Moon Goddess’ strikes this balance perfectly, with a slow, considered piano melody overlaying droning strings and angelic vocals.
The record’s interplay of sounds is reflected in the different inspirations William Gao and Olivia Hardy drew from throughout the writing process. William looked towards the pulsating, raw techno of Berlin’s club scene, while Olivia sought inspiration from nature and church piano rooms.
‘Vogue’ delivers the same endearing combination of electronic beats complementing backing strings and piano as ‘2515’, courtesy of Hardy and Gao’s musical skillset. The sound is spacious and teaches us the nuance of patience across a record, teasing an ever-growing tension without feeling the need to fully release it.
On ‘Bleeding Gold’, Olivia sings, “Feel like a weight off my shoulders has been lifted”, over familiar, relaxed indie beats. It’s easy to empathise with the lyrics across this lighthearted and catchy track. Contrast this with the introduction to ‘Strike Me Down From Heaven’ and you experience the full range of this work. Powerful cinematic vocals echo over droning production to deliver a track that wouldn’t feel out of place soundtracking the next James Bond film.
‘Nocturne’ is certainly an apt name for the album. The energy exuded across the record reflects, at times, collective moments on the dancefloor or moments of solace. Not moments of sadness, but those to be experienced in the dark. Often, the bass is heavy, as on ‘Strike Me Down From Heaven’, or the piano composition slow and considered, such as on ‘Stay’.
Perfectly encapsulated by the energy, cinema and emotion delivered by and , ‘Nocturne’ feels less like a departure for Wasia Project and more like a natural progression. Bringing together two distinct sources of inspiration, the album creates something that feels entirely their own.
8/10