Label: Rise Records
Released: 1st July 2022
At its heights, Mothica’s second album is something else. From the thumping, stalking vamp of title track ‘Nocturnal’ to ‘Sensitive’, rebounding on an elastic stab, it manages to be both sinister and razor-sharp.
‘The Reckoning’ growls pleasingly, like a lullaby adorned with razor blades, ‘Highlights’ sprinkles salt over the sugar-rush of alt-pop – when it hits, it’s euphoric.
Not everything across seventeen tracks could hit quite as hard, but with smart ideas, sharp experimentation and a vision for something bigger than just the music, ‘Nocturnal’ is an album to get lost in. ■ Dan Harrison
4/5
Total Score