The debut album from astounding young Brisbane band Nikko, The Warm Side, encompasses an array of lush textures that create an engaging dynamic which warrants multiple listens, with each press of the repeat button unveiling a new noise hidden beneath the complex layers making up each of the individual nine tracks.

Nikko’s unique sound is hard to classify, however, it can be loosely defined as a cross between broody high-velocity garage-blues in the style of The Drones, with the pastoral post-rock sensibility of Do Make Say Think and the lush indie landscapes of Mogwai.

The Warm Side is the culmination of years of solid gigging, self-recording, and self-releasing, that has seen Nikko refine their genre-blending style, with the polish of renowned Japanese engineer Naomune Anzai’s (Because of Ghosts, The Night Terrors) reputed flair for treating atmospheric rock.

A sonically cinematic experience, The Warm Side is an album of huge power, emotional depth, and feeling, with vocals submerged under a blanket of sound, as eerily melodic guitars battle with a driving rhythm section.

Nikko have more than proved their worth with this brilliant and varied album which, although risky and excessive at times, remains utterly compelling and open throughout.

Whether you’re a fan of the experimental or not, the quality of the music here makes The Warm Side a collection worth picking up for sheer song quality alone.

Review Score: 7.5/10