By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Sunday, December 10, 2017
No Such Animals caught my attention when they announced their release show for their first release, Create TV, back in September. I went to cover the show for Jersey Indie, so I got there early and watched all the bands, recording part of their sets. When No Such Animals went on, I really had no idea what to expect. I had never heard of them or seen them on any local bills. They opened with a new song, and I was pretty blown away. NSA played as a three-piece and their sound was huge. Their set was loud, tight and passionate. This was my introduction to No Such Animals.
According to their Facebook,
“No Such Animals is a project spearheaded by vocalist and guitarist Ryan Romanowski, which has culminated over many years of cassette tape recordings and member changes. Driven by nostalgia and recognizing the timelessness of early rock music, the band has breached the surface when the three remaining members, Mike Cavalli, Mike Roshe and Bill Grainger, discovered something special by chance through social media.
Knowing what it takes to make a name in the already thriving New Jersey scene, No Such Animals remind us why we support live music and that genres don't always apply.”
However, when I messaged No Such Animals to get some more information on the release, Ryan informed me that they are not a band and it is just him on the release, with help from Charlie Berezansky. Berezansky recorded the EP and provided bass, but other than that the release is all Romanowski.
“Cigarette” really stood out to me on my first listen of the release. To me, this was the “pop” track on the record. The release remains relatively upbeat, other than “Brain Rattle." This track gave me a real Manchester Orchestra vibe. Romanowski really showcases his vocal abilities on this track and the song is buried in reverb, giving it a truly dreamy feel. “Brain Rattle” is probably my favorite on Create TV. I imagine this track took a lot of work considering how well thought out the instrumentation is, which I truly enjoy.
Ryan and Charlie did a hell of a job on the project’s first release, and I really heard all the work they put into this EP. Create is well thought out, well-produced and the songs are polished. One trap I find a lot of local bands falling in on their first release is not having a consistent sound. However, on this release, Ryan has culminated a sound that is unique and consistent through and through. Romanowski’s voice really makes this release stand out and his work is truly impressive. I am definitely looking forward to hearing more from this project.
You can, and should, listen to Create TV here.