Since stepping out from behind his former project Cotton Jones, Michael Nau has released a steady string of truly solid albums, proving himself to be a prolific songwriter with an inclination toward infectious, melodic pop rock and quietly soulful folk music. His latest release, Michael Nau and The Mighty Thread, offers up some of his best songs yet. It is as groovy as it is thoughtful. Nau’s warm, smooth voice often sounds like it comes from another era – it is fresh, but so familiar. Revisiting songs from past projects and reimagining them, Nau breathes new life into his own songs and mixes them with new ones, too.
The Mighty Thread takes you on a journey full of twists and turns, and it’s fun to hear Nau experiment with sound effects and tone. Since his 2016 solo record Mowing, we have had the pleasure of watching Nau get more comfortable in his skin as an artist, and The Mighty Thread feels like a triumph for him. It may also be his most cohesive work to date, which may be partially attributed to the consistency of his recording process – all in one place and live. He seamlessly moves through these songs with an ease that makes us feel cozy and invited. On songs like album opener “Less Than Positive” and “On Ice”, Nau shows himself as a master of the earworm. Both bouncy tunes with so much heart, they feel tailor-made for playing extra loud and swaying your hips. Extra flourishes like the subtle but celebratory pings of a vibraphone add a sense of joy and playfulness that make us want to join the band and jam.
Other standouts include the dreamy “Shadow On” and the exuberant “When”. Both feel bigger than anything we’ve heard from Nau before, and that leap into a more full-bodied sound for him is exciting. “No Faraway Star” and “Funny in Real Life” have a retro 60s and 70s vibe, carefree and hazy, like a hot summer day. It is a sound that suits Nau’s sensibilities so well, and it feels like we’re unwrapping it alongside him.
