Nacional
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Music
Press
Nacional-This is one for the bookish studious AEC kids — the buttoned up and sharp ones. Often compared to Joy Division, Teardrop Explodes, The Smiths and Wedding Present, Nacional do have some similarities to the above, but with a much sunnier demeanor. These Glaswegians are definitely worth a look and a listen.
- The Tripwire
Telephone/Yorkshire- August proves a lean time for singles, but can anyone emerge gleaming from the garbage? Nick Mitchell gets his ears dirty.......................................................................On cue, Nacional come to the rescue of a damp squib month with Telephone (4stars, 4 Aug). The latest signing to the Art/Goes/Pop label (who've also supported Scottish up-and-comers Popup, Isosceles and The Low Miffs) could do with the full producer treatment, but the raw ingredients are there for a great band - and single of the month. - The Skinny
Is This Music- S x S W review of Nacional @ The Wave on 6th Street Underneath the incongruous backdrop of a plastic palm tree, the thousand yard stare of vocalist Robert Armstrong is reminiscent of the intensity of Twilight Sad’s James Graham, with the highlight of their set being the powerful Wedding Present-esque wig-out closer - Is This Music
Rough Trade-Nacional seem to derive their energy from the early to mid eighties magic of bands like the june brides or the wedding present so therefore stand apart quite brightly from today's crop, and all the better for it with two sides of catchy, emotive indie that grab you instantly. Already being tipped by xfm and 6 music by the time you've read this it'll probably be sold out. Another limited 7" from the mighty art goes pop label. - Rough Trade
Discography
Nacional released their first single in August of this year. Double A side Telephone/Yorkshire distributed by Rough Trade Records.(See Link Below)
http://www.roughtrade.com/site/new_release_list.lasso?file=New_Releases_28-07-2008.html
Photos
Bio
Nacional are a Glasgow based band formed in November 2006, hailing from eclectic musical corners of the U.K. They carry the great British music batton into the future, sounding like the prodigal, prodigy children of The Smiths, The Stone Roses & The Wedding Present. Pushing forward with their own epic sound with rhythms that will make you dance like Joy Division's Ian Curtis. Lovelorn, Northern diatribe perfectly complimented by soaring guitar riffs and punching rhythm. Lyrics that convey meaning and highlight a poetic heart with burnt hands and closed eyes. The band strive to make a connection with audiences through their words, music and intense live performances.
They recently played a live session on the Vic Galloway show on Radio 1 to promote forthcoming single On T.V/First Killing set for release on Art Goes Pop records, distribution by Rough Trade and also on various digital download sites including ITunes. Release date is the 6th June 2009. Huw Stevens Radio 1 played On T.V proclaiming Nacional sounding might fine.
Nacional recently returned from their triumphant S x S W showcase in Austin, Texas where they played an official showcase as well as a string of other gigs. Appearing on the Scottish Arts Council official C.D also featuring Primal Scream and the Twighlight Sad.
The band have recently had their song Telephone included on the covermount of the March issue of Artrocker magazine- 'Pepe Jeans Sweet FA2 read by an estimated 30,000 people in the U.K, with a further 50,000 distributed all over Europe with the article promoting the band, their S x S W showcase and On T.V release.(See link below) Their song Yorkshire is currently being featured on the Strummerville compilation a charity set up in the name of Joe Strummer available from Itunes from the 5th of May.(see link below) With the band as well as other Strummerville artists being featured in the Italian Rolling Stone.(See Links below) The band were also featured on recent best of myspace podcast which is currently in the ITunes music podcast top 100.
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=309876487&s=143444
http://www.rollingstonemagazine.it/page.php?ID=4917
http://www.strummerville.com
Last years achievements include playing the Late N Live stage at Great Britains most prestigious festival- 'Glastonbury', which was the bands crowning achievement of their U.K tour, where they were name checked by Mercury Award winning frontman Guy Garvie of the band Elbow as being my new favourite band on BBC Radio 1 after seeing Nacional play on the opening day of the festival.
Following on from Glastonbury they appeared alongside Moby, performing live on SKY 203(Channel M) in Manchester (See video link below) as well as supporting Pivot and winning The Magnus Magnusson Award from Glasgow Caledonian University with a performance in The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in front of 2000 people at the freshers address. Other supports include Detroit Social Club, Twisted Wheel and The Phantom Band.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1213860378/bctid1725949693
Nacional released their first single in August of this year. Double A side Telephone/Yorkshire distributed by Rough Trade Records.(See Link Below)
http://www.roughtrade.com/site/new_release_list.lasso?file=New_Releases_28-07-2008.html
The 'Telephone' single has an animated video(See video link below), made by Joshua at the Art Goes Pop team, melting together 2 art forms and keeping with the labels artistic ethos. The video was recently showcased on Channel M.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LQP_ExRqGpw
Joshua Armitage of the BBC has again animated the forthcoming video this time combined with the live footage from their performance at the Popmorphic Studio, a format which revolutionises the live music experience with film and sound technological advances.(See video link below)
http://www.vimeo.com/4268979
They have also been championed by ex-XFM now Radio Scotland DJ Jim Gellatly, recipient of the John Peel Contribution to Music Award 2008 who has helped bring the band to prominence in Scotland with his loyalty and commitment to The Nacional cause. Also championed by BBC Radio 6 as well as a host of student radio stations and podcasts including Exposed podcast, Subcity Radio and UCA Radio, Last FM as well as Irelands 2fm and Radio Yorkshire. Some of the American radio stations include WPRB, KCRW and KORQ.
Links
