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Sometimes you hear an album in a genre you’re not too familiar with, and it wins you over simply through how well crafted it is. That was the case for me with this Ōtautahi quartet, on their debut album.
It’s indie rock, but more melodic and shinier around the edges than I’d usually gravitate toward. You could maybe call it ‘emo’ (two members used to play in an emo band), or even pop punk in moments. But it doesn’t really matter when faced with the band’s forceful sincerity and boldly-wrought songcraft. At that point you have no choice but to be swept away.
These are songs where you’re meant to hear every word, and each has lines that stick. On 'New York is Thataway, Man', Rachael Norcross sings “Ï wore the black and white dress you liked/ you didn’t touch me even one time”, telling a story in just two lines.
When the song finishes with “You took bad care of me”, the words feel slightly tongue-in-cheek, but the delivery is completely earnest. It’s a tricky thing to tackle without falling into self-pity, but this is the territory Model Home navigate with ease.
It helps that Norcross can tackle melodically rich vocal lines with rare precision.
Norcross is joined by Sean James on drums, and Will Roud on second guitar and vocals. When he takes the mic he proves to be as vocally powerful as his co-frontperson.
From my limited set of reference points, I hear similarities to The Mountain Goats in the sense of storytelling and tone, but mostly the power pop adrenaline of Chapel Hill 90s stars Superchunk.
In the second half of the runtime comes ‘Midnight, Dragon Garden’, and in an album full of earworms, it might be the catchiest. There are too many heartfelt lyrics to mention, but “You work part time cleaning hospital floors/ you buy me luxuries I can’t afford” jumps out early. Those modest luxuries are nachos and juice, and after Norcross sings “I don't feel so low anymore” she amps up her delivery to proclaim “Yeah I’m eating again, I’m putting on weight”.
It’s about being working class, possibly dealing with depression, and having someone help you through a hard time. The latter half of the song jumps ten years into the future, and while I assume it’s addressed to a former partner, it could easily be about a family member or friend.
‘Midnight, Dragon Garden’ is the emotive high point on a very emotive album. By the time Norcross is returning the favour and getting that person through their own rough patch, I find it incredibly affecting.
Model Home are the most heart-on-sleeve band I’ve heard in some time, and the way they completely own that is part of this album’s success. ...And Nobody Made a Sound is wall-to-wall great songs, great singing and great playing.
Even if, like me, it initially feels outside your frame of reference, you’ll soon be won over.
