The Sound Mirrors

"As the first beats begin banging out, I thought perhaps I put in some old '80s disc by mistake. But, no, it's a pleasant surprise, the music of Nemo that is, unabashedly '80s based, recalling big-sounding bands like the Cure and the Smiths. Oh, they have songs that can't be pinned so obviously, but the numbers still manage to trace their roots to the punk and new-wave explosion. And that's not a detriment, as anyone who lived through the era will tell you. Sure, there was a lot of shlock, but there was a tremendous amount of good music as well, and Nemo either exploits that fact or continues the tradition, depending on how you see it. Songs are lush and layered, with much in the way of overdubs. This tends to give the songs a real big sound, almost Spector-ish. The pacing is quite quick as well, with just 3 songs out of 17 clocking in at over 3 minutes. This gives the disc the feeling of a compilation, as songs blister in and out. The music almost has an aquatic feel to it, as on "Signs of Life," an up-tempo number that seems to swell as it plays along. An interesting mix of old and new." - NYRock.com

"Pleasantly accessible, but perfectly weird, Nemo’s Signs of Life sparkles with sophisticated melodies that recall XTC at their sunniest, alongside more romantically-charged pop anthems that bring to mind The Cure and New Order (fronted by English Beat), but to label them retreads would simply be a disservice, as their influences and tendencies are just too far-ranging for that. In fact, there’s so much going on here you could probably hear whatever you want (“Oh there’s early R.E.M. – oh there’s Talk Talk – there’s a smidgeon of Wild Honey-era Beach Boys!”). It’s sort of pointless."

"That they appear to have such a wide array of influences, yet draw on them so effortlessly to craft their own sound should only be a testament to their ability. Recorded in the comfy confines of their Brooklyn apartment, Luke McCartney and Dennis Tyhacz infect their debut album with an adventurous spirit that likens them to their contemporaries, The Fiery Furnaces, with whom they share a similar regard for the abstract (both lyrically and musically). And with a sound that seems fully realized for such a low-budget approach, the duo seem comfortable balancing the direct (“Metropolitan”) with the more left-of-center (“Ether”), but usually in the same song (“Eternity of This”). It’s refreshing and remarkably confident (because it works), and that they pull it off should say something to what awaits them. No doubt this will find a niche amongst the more intellectual and emotionally-leaning indie fans. It’s one of the best albums of the year."
-Gary Knight (9.20.04) - Left Off The Dial.Com

"Unlike the sea captain of the same name, Nemo is not submerged in murky depths. For something conceived in a Williamsburg, Brooklyn apartment, Signs of Life shrugs off the shackles of hipsterdom rather well and isn't afraid of sunny harmonies, uplifting melodies or light, shimmery vocals. The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" is essentially the template for the infectious "Northern Light", and you can smell the Beach Boys, the Kinks, and other '60s popsmiths all over the record...Just trust me on this. In fact, "Aviator" sounds like it may well have been cut off of the Posies' Frosting on the Beater at the last minute. Too much of a good thing, perhaps, but it's hard to hold it against an album that's so darn listenable...
Overall, the album wreaths deep musings about eternity, fate, and spirit in a pop-rock garland (the best example of which is the bright, echoey "The Sun of Ulee"). But some of the choruses are remarkably clever gems -- case in point, the refrain to "Lunar Ship to Mars" goes "Like the eye of the needle / I will shake you through / On the eve of destruction / I will see you through." Moments like those are when Signs of Life really comes alive, and the combined talent of the Brooklyn brain trust of Luke McCartney and Dennis Tyhacz really jells. If this is just their debut, I can't wait until they surface again.

-Splendid E-Zine - Georgiana Cohen (10.12.04) - Splendid E-Zine

"Now that the cable television network VH-1 has thoroughly beaten any remaining fun out of 1980s nostalgia (by the way, it seems, disturbingly, that they've started in on the 90s already), it's easy to forget that among all the campiness was some remarkable pop music. That decade may have been the golden age of the melodic, three-minute song. The Brooklynites of Nemo seem to think so, anyway. The band's debut LP, Signs of Life, marries happy memories of new-wave with thoroughly contemporary, and refreshingly non-referential, indie pop.

Nemo isn't really a synth band, though. The echoey lead and quickly strummed rhythm guitars of "Northern Light" recall Cure and Smiths singles, while Luke McCartney's double-tracked vocals on "Metropolitan" and elsewhere are very much his own. Indeed, Nemo's musical sensibility is pretty universal, within the universe of pop, that is. The songs are catchy, hook heavy, and up-tempo. They're as much a thoroughly contemporary indie band as they are an 80s throwback.

Another thing that makes Nemo unique is the use of a dual-frontman format. Multi-instrumentalist McCartney splits lead vocal and songwriting duties with bassist Dennis Tyhacz, but their styles don't contrast that drastically. Both write abstract, non-narrative lyrics, and both seem content to let the strength of the music, rather then lyrical content, carry the songs.

Nemo's Tyhacz and McCartney are skilled songwriters with good pop instincts...this is undoubtedly a great sounding record." -
George Ford (Delusions of Adequacy) - www.adequacy.net

"Non Pretentious and somewhat dissassociated from overly specific style labels or restraints, Nemo (Luke McCartney and Dennis Tyhacz) modestly shows their talent on their self produced debut "Signs of Life" (released on Binge Records).
The album ties together missing links between past decades in a way that clarifies the relationship between 60s psychedelic rock and 80s new wave. It was festive and non-demanding - palatable and uplifting Their music does not put the listener on the spot with self-indulgent angst or tiring attempts at being hip. Instead, they focus largely on good old-fashioned guitar playing, compositional talent and imaginative lyrics.

Go here for a jpeg of full review:
http://www.nemony.com/press.html
- 11211 Magazine

"Lord knows we’ve been waiting for new wave and rock to marry for a long time. We’re not talking about Hot Hot Heat or the new Blink 182 record either. They might’ve stolen their name from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, but that shouldn’t upset Kirk Douglas these days. If anything he should put down his walker and go see them. With a 17 song LP coming out in June, this Brooklyn based band isn’t messing around. Bring your loved ones and be sure to swim the Manic Panic mecca."
— The New York Press (3.17.04) - NYPress.com

"Given the limitations of recording in a New York apartment, the Brooklyn-based duo of Luke McCartney and Dennis Tyhacz have created a debut CD, Signs of Life, that sounds impressive...Dreamy guitar licks pitched against filled-out bass lines and cymbal-heavy beats make for some well-constructed indie-rock, drawing obvious elements from R.E.M. and The Cure...the wonders of reverb on songs like "Metropolitan" and "Northern Light" bring to mind images of music bubbling up from the depths of an ocean trench; it's a nice touch. "The Burn" and "Aviator," while retaining the introspective and romantic qualities of previous tracks, also show us that Nemo knows how to rock. At the same time, (The Burn) gives us a taste of McCartney's lyrical stylings as he comments on the state of our politicos and their constant bending of the truth..."-
Shaking Through.net - Shaking Through.net

"If I had to introduce this album to itself, it would go like this; "Music of the 80's, meet vocal stylings of the '60s." Surprisingly, the two get along most of the time. Signs of Life kicks off with "Metropolitan", which has that baffling lighthearted-yet-melancholic energy Cure fans know well. "Northern Light" follows with a wonderful mix of acoustic and electric guitar, quick drum line and layered vocals; this is the strongest offering on the disc in terms of the band's essence. From here, we encounter several songs that carry a punk edge...The album succesfully mixes the best of 80's pop and retro vocals."
-Synthesis (9.7.04) — www.synthesis.net - Synthesis Magazine

"Nemo's name is stolen from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, not a Pixar fish, but the Brooklyn duo's jangly full-length debut, Signs of Life (Binge) has an aquatic feel to it either way; the album is frequently expansive, and occasionally propulsive, with floaty double-tracked vocals that seem to come from, if not 20,000, at least half a dozen leagues down."-
Time Out NY - Time Out-NY

"Nemo is a catchy new-wave influenced duo with the strong sense of the romantic. This is their debut LP (release date June, 2004). Legend has it that they took their name from the movie 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Luke McCartney and Dennis Tyhacz's 17 songs were crafted all from their private studio in Williamsburg. At times they bring strong comparisons to 80's legends OMD, Modern English, and Talk Talk, then bridge back to early 1990's college indie sound. Metropolitan” is by far the superior song with its dream like qualities and pillow soft vocals. I would of fallen in love with this song back in high school."-
Crashinin.com - Crashinin.com

"Nemo's name is stolen from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, not a Pixar fish, but the Brooklyn duo's jangly full-length debut, Signs of Life (Binge) has an aquatic feel to it either way; the album is frequently expansive, and occasionally propulsive, with floaty double-tracked vocals that seem to come from, if not 20,000, at least half a dozen leagues down."-
Time Out NY - Time Out-NY