It’s in the delicacy and composure in which Nelson handles his songs that he shines.
In Nelson’s ‘new’ musical direction, you can hear bits of classic pop from throughout history. Terror Terror, Hide It Hide It is ELO in its synth and string effects, Spoon or David Byrne in its rhythmic groove, and yeah, maybe even The Beatles in its earnest attempt to understand what makes pop music work. Dark-edged r’n’b, 2-Tone and Stax-referencing grooves all get a look-in; Nelson’s heart-to-sleeve sincerity and yearning drawing the whole thing together. But it’s in the delicacy and composure in which Nelson handles his songs that he shines.