There’s no shortage of alternative guitar music emerging from the thriving cultural hotspot that is Los Angeles, however the latest offering from NONA, a new project from LA-based musician Michael Goodman, is definitely worth checking out. His fifth outing under the NONA moniker, ‘Fathers Day’ sees Goodman realise an inherent nostalgia in his songwriting, from the opening laid-back guitar riff, which gives the song a distinctly slacker vibe, to the honest lyrical exploration of his childhood and relationship with his father. “That was my fathers way, I won’t make that mistake”, Goodman decries in the track’s earnest and heartfelt chorus with a deep-rooted sense of reflection clearly evident.

Despite the somewhat polished studio sheen, there’s still a touch of surf-rock to ‘Fathers Day’, clearly a product of hours spent drenched in the LA sunshine. Like a slightly less ramshackle Mac Demarco with a voice not a million miles away from Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. This is a description that fits much of NONA’s current discography, particularly on the whimsical ‘Honey Money’ and his intriguing, jangly cover of Beyoncé’s ‘Hold Up’.

‘Fathers Day’ is another understated single from a musician who relies more on his own songcraft than on studio bells and whistles or drastic experimentation to get his message across. Simple yet effective. Certainly one to keep an eye on.

Rory Marcham
@RoryMarcham