You can always count on the guys in Nuisance to keep things interesting. The duo that’s composed of William Seidel and Ryan Weber—who were past collaborators in noted Milwaukee outfits like Decibully, Camden, The Promise Ring, and the similarly pronounced New Sense over the last three decades—used “virtual instruments” and strict self-imposed rules to create the first Nuisance album in 2022. The unconventional creativity continued with last year’s so-called “four-dimensional triple double album” called SAND, STONE, GLASS that had three different versions of the same 19 songs that could be played individually, together all at once, or in a variety of two-album combinations.
Nuisance’s catalog of material that’s crafted under uncommon conditions will grow this week when the project releases Squash Bloom Necklace. This time around, distance and ever-changing environment of one of its members serve as the record’s main sources of influence. Up until this point, Seidel had been based in Milwaukee and Weber was rooted in Los Angeles. However, when the former embarked on a trip all around the world over the last 12 months with “a modest recording set up” in tow, the “studio” took on a variety of different formats for him.
When Seidel was able to find the necessary time, inspiration, and internet connection during his travels throughout the western United States (and Hawaii), Australia, and various Asian nations, he applied vocals to the instrumental tapestries Weber emailed to him and uploaded to a shared drive. He recorded where and when he could, including laying down melodies in hotel bathrooms, in forests, and in the back of a van he was using to get around Japan. Naturally, the traveler’s experiences and new perspectives gleaned along the way played a significant role in the album’s 10 tracks. Similarly, Weber—in addition to some of the “virtual instruments” employed on past releases—used a variety of world music instruments he acquired during his past excursions to suit the record’s undisputed theme of wanderlust and self-discovery.
Nuisance will play Squash Bloom Necklace in its entirety during a listening party at Wiggle Room on Tuesday, July 16. The listening event will begin at 7 p.m. and the band will have a limited number of cassettes available for sale in person. Cassettes will also be available at independent record stores in the area soon. Until then, listen to a track from Squash Bloom Necklace below.