Nation of Language: 2025

Brooklyn's Nation of Language are no strangers to FUV — their Rockwood Music Hall concert happened a few years ago, not too long after the release of 2021's A Way Forward. 

The trio of  Ian Richard Devaney (lead vocals, guitar), Aidan Noell (synthesizer), and Alex MacKay (bass guitar) has since released two additional albums, most recently Dance Called Memory.

For this new FUV Live session, Nation of Language played a set from that fourth album which thematically laments the passage of time. Although Dance Called Memory could be said to have a mournful and world weary vibe, there's a clear, warm, propulsive groove that runs through it, as on "Inept Apollo." It's satisfying to move with that easy flow through all ten tracks, a way to dance through any sadness.

Although a synth-forward release, Nation of Language brings a richly organic and human quality to Dance Called Memory, which Devaney, Noell, MacKay, and producer Nick Millhiser have said was partly inspired by Brian Eno's own philosophy.

In a press release, Devaney has expanded on this idea, saying that in this AI world, the band has something very different in mind:  “Instead of hopelessness, I want to leave the listener with a feeling of us really seeing one another, that our individual struggles can actually unite us in empathy.”

In addition to "Inept Apollo," Nation of Language played two more standouts from Dance Called Memory for this session: "Silhouette" and "Under the Water."

[Recorded: 9/10/25; Engineered by Jim O'Hara with Erin Merriman and James Higgins. Produced by Meghan Suma. Videographers: Alena Godas, Gina Slavin, Bella Lipayon and Lily Crean.]