Tapedeck: Nabuma’s Soul, Charged Debut EP That Redefines Cyprus’s Modern Sound
Nabuma presents a balanced and warm, to the heart, to the soul type of work with Tapedeck, their debut six-track EP, which is a worthy contribution to the contemporary music scene of Cyprus. Lifelong musical collaborators and friends, the band features vocalist and writer Nicole Ardanitou, bassist and co-writer Andreas Matheou, drummer Kris Grecian, and guitarist Alexis Kasinos. The Limassol-based quartet creates a transpersonal, musically open, expansive record that merges neo-soul jazz, alternative R&B, and slight rock elements. The final product of this EP is a work that is phenomenally close, painstakingly arranged, and unreservedly expressive. The warmth, the profundity, and the throwback to the analog era woven into the modern, groove-driven backbone of the EP make it a perfect example of how nondigital genres continue to thrive in the contemporary music scene.
With a firm grip on their lo-fi and soulful chops, the band, through the first song of the album, “Surprise,” extol their emotional range. The voice of Nicole is like a tender but desperate call and a hope at the very same time, this being exactly what the track is about: the plunging down of a spiral of despair, hand intertwined with a cry for help and also with a ray of hope. In the song’s mixture of grooves from the soul, gleeful rhythmic movement, and explosive energy sourced in the fusion of rock genres, lies one of the most potent pieces of the EP frame. Its “black and white effect” of the concept and of the sound, manifested by the light and the dark sides of the project, profoundly mirrors the band’s ethos.
In the song “What Did You Want, ” Nabuma continues to deepen their neo-soul roots and to solidify their aesthetic. Playing with the attractive vocal lines, smooth harmonic layering, and, well, locked groove, the group demonstrates how strong and concerted they are at their best. The song is perfect for the radio without being shallow from an artistic point of view, as it brilliantly marries the commercial potential and the emotional honesty that is dear to the band’s heart.
The seed of most of the EP’s distinctive sound is planted in the artists’ varying musical experiences. The lovely and stylized melodies imbued with the jazz influence coming from the mouth of Nicole and the warm low, end foundation provided by Andreas, the steady rhythmic pulse done by Kris, together with the harmonic voice of Alexis which is very advanced all these four persons’ abilities and styles blend to form one single but at the same time adventure in the sonic world identity highly accurate and musical in character. To mention a few, the band’s sound takes influence from such artists as Hiatus Kaiyote, Moonchild, Lianne La Havas, Erykah Badu, Jordan Rakei, and Little Dragon, but does not let their qualities go overshadowed.
Recorded in the bassist’s personal studio, a small creative refuge, the EP has the sound of a natural and warm one. The comfort, familiarity, and trust you can spot in every arrangement are the things you hear. The music here is the result of the artists’ shared life experience and not something that came due to pressure from the outside.
Tapedeck is a real gem in the sea of Cyprus's independent musical output of 2024. It is a very well-made stance of the band which firmly acknowledges its roots and is daring enough to look beyond the island’s letting it be vocal, rich in music composition-wise, and emotionally touching. This record represents the culmination of all these personality traits found in Nabuma; thus, it also proves the band to be ready for the next step.
Get In Touch With Nabuma:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nabumatheband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nabumatheband/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nabuma8
Bandcamp: https://nabuma.bandcamp.com/album/tapedeck
Website: https://nabumatheband.com
