Our favourite Scotian champions of the groove, norc, have returned with “Crystalline,” their latest single to show off their exquisite taste in math rock-inspired beats, that they describe as a “moody and mysterious song that ends on a hopeful note.” It also marks a shift in era for the band, now well-established as a four-piece, and fully settled in their roles.
As usual, “Crystalline” is rooted in the delicious drumming of Ryan Holland. More than simply the traditional backbone of norc, Holland’s percussion continues to stand out as a real highlight of each of their tracks. Pulling inspiration from Canadian math rock legends RUSH, that rhythmic groove is well-seated, having been built on a foundation of precision.
However, with “Crystalline,” we’re seeing the band really open up their potential with vocalist Christiana Armstrong able to lean into the synths, thanks to the arrangement of norc’s current lineup.
“Crystalline was a song that we had previously performed in an earlier iteration with our original lineup,” explains Armstrong. “We had always wanted to record this song next and. as soon as Jack Murtha joined our band on bass and later when Alan Godin joined as our new guitarist, we developed what became the recorded version of this song.”
Murtha (Social Smokers Club, Postfun) has, at this point, only performed a single show with norc—a pre-COVID show at the Halifax’s Marquee with Scientists of Sound—while Godin (Crestfallen) joined the band shortly before the pandemic began and will be playing his first show with the band on August 14th. The song was recorded and mixed with Brycen Gunn (Kids Losing Sleep), and mastered by Paul Edwards in Montreal.
“‘Crystalline’ serves as a perfect bridge between the old era on norc and our current era,” says Armstrong. ” It’s also a personal win for the band, as recording and creating during the pandemic was very difficult for us. There were months where we were legally not able to record or rehearse.
“We’re now happily past that, and more music is being finished behind the scenes.”
norc will be returning to the stage at Gus’s Pub on August 14th (sold out), with more tour dates planned for later this fall.