Rhetoric & Terror by Nonpareils

As one’s life develops and grows in complexity, the challenge of retaining a single, unified self amid a wide array of obligations feels insurmountable. Nonpareils takes aim at this problem on Rhetoric & Terror, an album that steadies its self-image between the pulls of tender, playful parenthood and deep, dark artistry. In a reversal of typical associations with id and ego, the id here feels most represented by moments of airy vocals, bouncy rhythms, whimsical percussion, and light melodies, while the ego emerges later on the album in the form of difficult chord progressions and unsettling interactions. All across the album, these two ingredients find opportunities to blend and co-exist, painting a complete picture of the artist who feels equally comfortable and self-assured in any of a wide range of settings. By examining the fascinating ways these sounds interact, we find pathways in our own lives to an authentic existence enabling a future of maximum self-actualization.