Review Summary: Forget Macintosh Plus... crack open an ice cold Pepsi, fire up the Nintendo 64, and enter the digital world of Nick Drive.
In a world of arbitrary v a p o r w a v e artists and YouTube lo-fi/chill playlists comes a breath of fresh air in the sounds of Nick Drive and his solo effort the Providence EP. A four track EP that sits at just about 13 minutes, solely produced by Nick, is able to transport you to a digital world through infectious grooves, perfectly timed samples, and breathy crooning. This EP is for fans of those who favor “late night drive” kind of vibe. Really it boils down to saying that Providence was made for people who crawl through their cities looking for the perfect soundtrack to summarize the evening mood. It’s introspective, it anthemic, and chalk full of moments that make you bob your head along with the perfect “Bass Face”.
Off the bat the first song “Loose Soul” establishes what Nick Drive is all about. Driving guitar licks, electric piano soul, and processed drums create a cacophony of digital sound so easily that you may even set it as your Myspace profile song. Easily the track can make one feel as though they have heard it before. “Loose Soul” introduces you the soft croon of Nick Drive. His voice is not overbearing on the track, but buried enough in digital wave that you want to lean into the sound just to know what he’s talking about. The EP’s second track “Juice” is easily the catchiest and most memorable track of the four. “Juice” hits hard with the pop funk vibes that are reminiscent of the 80’s ballads that we love so much. The beginning piano arpeggio already signals of the whimsical tone the song proceeds to build on with its lush instrumentation and subtle computer samples. Add in the horn melody along with the jangly bassline and you have the perfect dance track. The icing on the cake for this track is honestly the guitar solo that brings in a jazz element, you’ll wish it lasts just a little longer. Overall, you’ll find yourself signing along with Nick as he exclaims “It’s my Juice” a creed that oozes the overall theme of the album. You’ll find yourself boasting the same swagger or “Juice” as you listen to the track.
The third track “Heartaches” slows the pace back down and brings a vibe that is closely resembling something The 1975 would release from their last effort. It reintroduces the more introspective side of Nick Drive and his lyricism that we find in the first track. The drums are the noticeable piece of the puzzle because of their large processed sound that cuts in and out (listen for the end to really see what I mean here). The final track of the EP “Quantize.exe” ends the album on an instrumental note. Here we find an exercise in the strength of not only the playing ability of Nick Drive but his producing skills. “Quantize.exe” can be summarized as the one actual v a p o r w a v e track of the four. It’s got a schizophrenic attitude to it as various plucky pianos swell in and out while old video game samples are thrusted in to the mix.
To my knowledge, Nick Drive was able to utilize not only his love for old video games but actual 90’s production with the use of floppy disks in order to make the tracks more authentic to its nostalgic vibe. Of all the points to note, the one thing I can definitely say is that the album does give a sense of nostalgia. If you grew up loving the sounds of produced pop songs then Nick Drive is the one for you. Nick is able to make you feel as though you’re surrounded by neon lights and nightlife. Or maybe you’re just a fan of the late night YouTube scrolling while being couch stuck. Either way, this EP is just a fun listen and the perfect addition to your Spotify playlist for your nights filled with countless hours of old Nintendo games or even your coffee shop.
