Rationing – Nadia Kazmi (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

What a cool song, somehow both reminiscent of some classic post-punk sounds, a touch of Siouxsie Sioux, perhaps even a dash of Kate Bush and yet sounding perfect for the modern age. That could be a definition of a timeless song, one that fits at home in all eras. If so, Nadia Kazmi makes music you can easily label as such, and Rationing is her new single.

I guess the thing that makes the song so accessible, well, there are many, but the most effective is her ability to mix the infectiousness of pop’s musical climes and the muscle of the rock way of doing things. It is a brooding and bruised masterpiece; there, I said it, and it isn’t a word I bandy about lightly.

But whereas most rockers would go all out to make the song brash and bombastic and popsters would overload it with gimmicks and saccharine sonics, it is in the balance that the song exists, pop perhaps restraining rocks more excessive nature, rock adding weight and integrity to pops more frivolous ways. But the talents of Nadia and co-producer Matt Chiaravalle, who also plays guitar and bass here, prove more than up to the job and the song sits in the perfect creative collision point.

And the result is perfect. A song that sits between pop and a hard place, that balances authenticity with accessibility, a blend of groove and grandeur, melody and muscle. A song that defies genre and era too.

That is one hell of a benchmark to lay down before the competition and also a high standard to set for herself. But isn’t it through raising the bar that music finds its way to more interesting and adventurous places? And if Rationing can be seen as important, it is to look beyond its numerous sonic charms and see it as a challenge to the rest of the music world, a throwing down of the gauntlet regarding musical standards. Who will be brave enough to accept such a challenge? Let’s wait and see…

photo: Michelle Lobianco