Surgery by The Nature Strip

“Surgery” is the first fruit of some new energy from The Nature Strip. The music is tough while the lyric is vulnerable – what is this thing called love? It’s like surgery, actually. A punked-up Motown groove is the foundation for a tough take on mid-1980s jangle – R.E.M. sure, but perhaps more specifically Game Theory, Orange Juice and Hoodoo Gurus. It’s the kind of pop-tastic hybrid that the Nature Strip has been laying down since their debut album in 2013.

The Sydney power-poppers have been on hiatus since late 2018 while their two songwriters pursued other projects. In 2020 Pete Marley released his debut album as Marveline (Savoury-Toothed Tiger, on Marleybone), and John Encarnacao released his fourth as Warmer (Wooden Box with Strings, on Half a Cow).

In May 2021 they got back together with drummer Jess Ciampa and keyboardist Matt Langley to commence work on some new stuff. “Surgery” came together quickly and is their first release since the Past Pacific EP in 2018, which Arun Kendall from Backseat Mafia described as “beautiful, crafted, intelligent pop.”

They are slowly working towards album number 4 – expect a trail of singles through the remainder of 2022.

Tracklist

1.	Surgery	3:04

Lyrics

Surgery

You said you’d walk beside me

I’m not used to this

The privilege of your kiss

Put me in perspective

You know I think too much

That’s what I’m doing now

But this is getting to me

I want to take this slowly

I want to take this in my stride

I want to take this slowly

But I take it much too seriously

It’s like surgery

It’s on my mind all the time

Every time feels like the first

I want to feel your curse

But put me in perspective

I think I’m doing well

I wish that I could tell

But this is getting to me

Talkin’ ’bout those teenage years now

Just like it’s ancient history

Talkin’ ’bout those teenage years now

Those years are still in front of me

But this getting to me, like surgery

I want to take this slowly

I want to take this in my stride

I want to take this slowly

But I take it much too seriously

It’s like surgery

Credits

released February 4, 2022
Written by John Encarnacao.

Jess Ciampa - drums

John Encarnacao - vocals, guitar

Matt Langley - keyboards

Pete Marley - bass guitar, vocals, percussion

Recorded at Golden Retriever and The Peppermint Lounge, Sydney, Australia.
Produced by the X-Flies
Mixed & mastered by Pete Marley

Cover Image by Zoë Carides
Photo by John Encarnacao

© & ℗ 2022 The Nature Strip.

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