ALBUM REVIEW: MOTHER MOTHER - NOSTALGIA (06/06/25)
Mother Mother's tenth studio album, Nostalgia, released on 6 June 2025, marks a significant evolution in the band's sound and thematic exploration. Known for their quirky alt-rock style, the Canadian quintet - Ryan Guldemond (vocals, guitar), Molly Guldemond (vocals, keyboards), Ali Siadat (drums), Jasmin Parkin (vocals, keyboards), Mike Young (bass) - delves into profound themes of alienation, existentialism, self-love and self-hate, gender roles, and spirituality through the vibrant imagery of otherworldly landscapes and mythical creatures. Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, the outfit delivers a new record that promises to be both a reflection on their journey and a bold step forward.
The album opens with ‘Love to Death’ a track that sets the tone, delving into the complexities of love, portraying it as both illuminating and consuming. Frontman Ryan Guldemond's lyrics, such as "Look at love, it will burn your eyes, kept shut and you feel deprived" encapsulate this duality, suggesting that love can be both blinding and enlightening.
The second track ‘Make Believe’, also serving as first single from the record, provides a more upbeat rhythm and embodies a psychedelic alt-rock vibe, also inviting listeners to embrace a whimsical perspective over rigid reality.
‘Station Wagon’ puts the guitar riffs aside and slows down momentum for a more heartfelt track, showcasing beautiful vocals and eerie harmonies from the different vocalists. ‘ON AND ON (Song for Jasmin)’ drives powerful guitars and a rockier vibe.
Frontman Ryan Guldemond steps aside on ‘Better of Me’ to give his sister Molly the opportunity to show off her beautiful vocals, backed by more guitar riffs - a raw and powerful performance.
During ‘Namaste’ the song opens with the gentle strum of an acoustic guitar while Guldemond (Ryan) carries a tone of quiet reflection. Then come the harmonies from his bandmates: layered, delicate, and full of ache.
‘FINGER’ is the standout track so far. Gleaming with glitter and grit, it can be described as a thought-provoking post-glam, alt-rock banger that slinks in with swagger and snaps back with venom. Over distorted guitar riffs and a stomping beat, the song points out shame and sexual double standards. It's catchy, confrontational, and cathartic.
The next track ‘Me & You’ delivers a tender blend of folk rock and indie, unfolding like a quiet promise between two people who simply get each other. The arrangement is understated, the lyrics “I take care of you, you take care of me too” are profound in their honesty.
So far each track feels like a portal to a different world - sonically and emotionally. Unpredictable in the best way, like flipping through someone’s private mixtape, the album explores a wide musical landscape. There was a real creative freedom which is translated in its eclecticism, a joy to discover and listen to.
‘little mistake’ is softer, calm, beautiful, with gentle harmonies on the chorus, offering the listener a real focus on the words. The lyrics take center stage, intimate and unguarded, an introspective reckoning with errors in judgment, marked by deep guilt and gentle remorse. It all leads to the devastating closing line: “I’m sorry.”
The following track ‘Mano a Mano’ marks a return to a more upbeat, full-bodied sound, bursting with rhythmic confidence and infectious momentum. Driven by tight percussion, bright guitars, and a pulsing bassline, the track crackles with an energy that feels made for the stage.
The titled track ‘Nostalgia’ carries emotional weight - bittersweet, reflective, and evocative through its lyricism on a time gone by. With gentle pacing building crescendo, the track ends beautifully.
The album concludes with the gentle track ‘To Regret’, a slow, piano-driven lament rich in honesty and hindsight. It brings the record to a subdued close, allowing the listener a moment of reflection on the musical journey that just unfolded.
With Nostalgia, Mother Mother prove they’re still willing to evolve, balancing playful invention with moments of genuine emotional weight, with every track created to evoke a strong emotional reaction, a genre-hopping journey that refuses to sit still. In blending introspective lyricism with sharpened production and a few bold stylistic pivots, the band manages to honour their past without being confined by it, resulting in an album that bridges their past and the possibilities of the next chapter.
Nostalgia out 6 June 2025 via Parlophone Records.
