NNHMN — Shadow In The Dark

Shadow In The Dark is the second release from dark & electro pulsing Berlin two-piece NNHMN (pronounce Non-Human), and depending on how you feel it’s either an EP or short album as it’s a seven-track affair that slides in at the thirty-one-minute mark. I was most impressed with the pair 2019 debut Church Of No Religion- and it's fairly original blend of darkly entrancing electronica, that had a  distinctly ritual-yet-club fed vibe about it…so when I saw this was out I was keen to dip in and see if it was up to the standard of the projects first album….and the answer is yes, but they add in a more female darkwave edge to their darkly pulsing & grimly hedonistic sound.

The release has appeared in three formats- first in late Dec last year as a cassette on the projects only label, then in Feb of this year as a 12 inc on Spanish darkwave label Oráculo Records- both of these versions only featured six tracks. The third & final release I’m reviewing of the release is the late Feb 2020 release from respected Polish experimental music label Zoharum- whom I’m sure will be known by many M[m] readers as they release a fairly varied selection of reissues & new releases in various experimental sub-genres, and we review a fair bit of their output on the site. This version of the release comes in the form of CD taking in seven tracks- and as with the band's first album the label present the release in a fairly darkly arty bit of packaging- it’s a dull laminated digipak feature an eye-catching cover that takes in a murky monochrome picture of what looks like a large animal skull with bright gloss pink texts over the top.

So moving onto the CD it’s self & it’s sonic, and as I mentioned in my introduction it moves/ alters the sound somewhat adding in coolly sang to spoken word female vocals on top- with the whole thing having a rather Dark wave feel to it, yet the project music still retains it’s layered, detailed & darkly throbbing vibe- which made them stand apart from the legions of retro synth focused projects. Things kick off with the title track- and here we find darkly bobbing 'n' cascading central synth tone surrounded by a snapping, throbbing & hissing beat structure. Around this the pair build a growing & decidedly wonky/ uneasy layers off note synth stab & washes, wavering grim ambience, and additional snapping beat patterns. Over the top, we get coolly wailing & sinister female vocals, and these adding a lulling malevolent air to the track.

By track three “De Unwise” we find a blend of deep pulsing & punching synths/ beats, around these we get higher pitched wavering haunted house hover &  more suddenly deviating synth/ beat patterns- on top of this, we get the grimy chatty-to-creepily sing-song vocals. Track six “Dark Sun” finds a sinisterly chopping & almost harmonic rising lead synth tone- around this, we get the skeletal beat structure of hissing & snapping beats, and slightly more upfront vocals which blend darkly sensual sing-song, & layered-yet-wavering harmonizing vocals. The bonus track is not listed on the CD case, but it’s an experimental remix of the title track- and it’s quite a different take on the original, as things are slowed to sinister & hover waltz with  shadowy bass tolls, tightly springing percussion, and dragged out ghostly vocals.

Thorough-out most of Shadow In The Dark NNHMN manage to maintain the difficult balance between darkly stabbing moodiness, fairly memorable songcraft, and grimly simmering off-kilter touches & details.  It’s always nice to see a project follow up & expand on the promise of their debut, and that’s exactly what NNHMN has done here- I very much look forward to hearing what they do next.