This expletive laden, post-apocalyptic debut EP from Londoner Nuha Ruby Ra bristles with anger, danger, desire and chaos in equal measure. Released on 5th March courtesy of Brace Yourself Records, the stand out track is arguably the stylishly urbane bit-on-the-side lament ‘Sparky’. A fatalistic take on an intense, controlling yet doomed relationship in the classic quiet/loud format, Nuha just about manages to keep it together during the taut verses before unravelling spectacularly at each chorus.
'How to Move’ is broken into two distinct halves although it's questionable whether ‘Intro’ and ‘At the Canyon’s Edge’ and ‘Cruel End’ merit inclusion beyond ornamentation. Saying that I’m perhaps being a little harsh, particularly as the latter of the trio sounds like it’s been bootlegged from an eighventies video nasty and ironically, given who’s at the controls, even smacks a little of Bowie’s 'Art Decade’.
On the other hand. Nuha’s alluringly woozy debut single ‘Erase Me’ definitely deserves to be here. Still reeking of post coital fag smoke you can sort of see why 6music picked up on it, helping the Londoner beat over 1,300 others to bag 2020’s Green Man Rising Competition. Unhinged 7-minute pseudo-finale ‘Run Run’ smacks of personal implosion, the constant impact of the straight jacket on the walls of her padded cell almost palpable to the listener.
Produced by Erin Tonkon, one of the team at the controls during the making of Bowie’s stellar swansong LP ‘Blackstar’ proves Ra is on an upward trajectory, garnering friends in high places.
Long may it continue.
Words - Mike Price