With an 80s tinged, post punk darkness, offset by inescapably catchy, tinkling keys, N0V3L is back with the first single off their debut record Non-Fiction, “Group Disease”. The track details the dangers of populism — absorbing into the mob and relinquishing yourself to conformity.
Although musically, the song feels like it could be suited for the soundtrack of an upcoming Stranger Things season (spooky, synth-y, bass heavy) it’s a refreshing spin on much of the post punk we’re seeing regurgitated in almost identical variations at the moment. It also takes on this concept of group conformity and mentality at a time where socially we have never been more isolated. Has our identity, who we identify with, and our ideals turned into a virtual existence? How much of self-identity is tied into playing out these things in a physical world?
The song also goes into “a search for meaning/a search for balance”. While inherently, these things might not be all bad, N0V3L argues that this “Group Disease” is in part due to our desire to ease our own despair — possibly by means of pinning our own challenges, failings, etc upon some group ideology or faith and absolving oneself of all responsibility after the fact.
It’s an earworm of a song — a dizzying, dark disco with a haunting ending that hangs in the air. Very excited to see what N0V3L pulls out next.
