Infinite Summer
The follow up to 2012’s well-received self-titled album, Infinite Summer sees main man Michael Lovett joined by Charlotte Hatherley (Bat For Lashes, Ash) and Sarah Jones (Hot Chip), to create a record that marries sci-fi futurism to personal intimacies. Since NZCA Lines’ debut record, Lovett has finished an illustration degree, directed the video for last year’s single ‘New Atmosphere’ - a statement of intent for Infinite Summer and the first glimpse of his fictional Cairo-Athens, a giant city of monuments, ennui and 24 hour parties - as well as honing his skills in the studio with Christine & The Queens and touring as part of Metronomy's live band. Recorded over the last two years with Charlie Alex March as studio co-conspirator, and mixed by David Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, Super Furry Animals), Infinite Summer is an emotional and dark LP, refracting Lovett’s personal life through the guise of a concept album. Influenced by the likes of Arthur C. Clark, Brian Aldiss, JG Ballard, Clifford Simak and Philip K Dick, Michael explains further, “The album is based around the idea of a far-future Earth, where the sun has expanded to the size of a red giant and our extinction is imminent. Half of the world is covered by a city that clings to the past and embraces its destruction, whilst the other half is trying to rebuild, create and make something new. Yet, it’s good on both sides because it's warm everywhere and people just party most of the time.”
Impending apocalypse aside, Infinite Summer still proves itself to be a record of substance.
If NZCA Lines' sleekly poignant sound is familiar, it's understandable: Their music evokes decades of London electro-pop, from Scritti Politti to Hot Chip and Metronomy (NZCA Lines' leader, Michael Lovett, was a touring member of the latter group).
Londoner Michael Lovett, also know as NZCA Lines, has returned with his second album and his first release on the stellar Memphis Industries...
"Skinny, white, 20-something, male Londoner who studied at Camberwell College of Arts does pitch-perfect soulful R&B-pop crossover." Few sentences could be more of a turn-off, more eye-roll inducing, and yet...well, you see where I'm going with this. The
Harnessing the perfect marriage of sci-fi and synthesizers, is the mellifluous ‘Infinite Summer’; a record eclipsing NZCA Lines / Michael