by Patrick Pilch (@pratprilch)
Lo-fi sludge pop outfit Nyxy Nyx craft foggy-eyed slowcore for the sleepers, dreamers, and deja vu-ers. The Philadelphia band build worlds where chord progressions are as foreign as they are familiar, crafting a “been-here-before” atmosphere through warm—at times unsettling—melodies and atmospheres. After a prolific couple years, Nyxy Nyx kick off 2023 with Anything, easily one of their most thoughtful and inspired records yet. With Anything, the band wrings the most out of their arrangements, weaving eleven lean songs into their strong, interconnected catalog.
Nyxy Nyx records are centered around immediate ear worms and slow-burn subtleties. The former are quick hits while the latter frequently offer an exceptional amount of relistenabilty and maybe even a little more to hang onto. First listen favorites “I never wanna lose U” and “Saturnday” will hit and rattle right off the bat, but it’s songs like “A new year now” and “this whole trip” that will burrow into the subconscious, sure to envelop listeners with time. Perhaps Bad History Month’s Sean Sprecher said it best:
“Every album has at least on [sic] best song ever, and then the slowest growers become your favorites. and then the slow grower albums become your favorites. this is all I listen to anymore.”
It makes sense it’s the only thing Sprecher listens to anymore. Nyxy Nyx’s music is like quicksand; their sound is for sinking. I found myself going back to last year’s Thee 3rd Album and 2020’s classic Dream Junkie while writing this review. Like slipping back into a dream, Nyxy Nyx pulls like no other.
The band’s psychedelic slowcore feels almost pointedly detached on recordings, though they are remarkably resonant in a live setting. Seeing Nyxy Nyx play in 2021 was a revelation, and my favorite recording of theirs is a live record at Haus of Yarga. To be honest, Nyxy Nyx’s music strikes on a personal level few artists hit. Theirs is the music I heard before I listened. Anything can strike a chord, but Anything hits oh so close to home.