Alex Edkins, who once led METZ, is now part of the duo Noble Rot and also creates his own sharp, driving power-pop songs under the project Weird Nightmare. A clear sign that Weird Nightmare represents authentic power-pop is that many of the project’s strongest cuts don’t appear on any album. Earlier this year, Weird Nightmare issued Hoopla, a long-playing record that Edkins co-produced with Spoon’s Jim Eno. It was a triumph. Now arrives a fresh standalone Weird Nightmare single that stands shoulder to shoulder with the album’s top moments.
Weird Nightmare’s new track, “Buzzing In My Head,” opens with a commanding sha-la-la hook and a vocal that alternates between a vivid yelp and a tinge of heartbreak. When the chorus comes in, the harmonies pile on with such force that they seem to glow. Edkins tracked the song with Holy Fuck’s Graham Walsh, his collaborator in Noble Rot, handling production. The lineup features the same players who contributed to Hoopla: Loel Campbell on drums and Matthew Kuester on bass.
In a press release, Edkins explains, “‘Buzzing In My Head’ deals with that one person/place/thing/memory/experience that refuses to leave your waking thoughts. It clings to you to the point of distraction and makes it hard to complete ordinary tasks.” Check out the song and the dates for Weird Nightmare’s brief upcoming tour below.
TOUR DATES:
11/18 – Toronto, ON @ Osler Records
11/19 – Toronto, ON @ Osler Records
11/20 – Kingston, NY @ Tubby’s
11/21 – Providence, RI @ Kafkaesque Festival
11/22 – Hingham, MA @ Ames Chapel
“Buzzing In My Head” is out now on Sub Pop.
