A concept album and record in every sense of the term, Nikki Manos’ ‘Rebel’s Twilight’ sees the LA based artist take the listener on an ambitious rock and roll record that crosses across multiple subgenres in its own narrative journey of redemption, rediscovery, and responsibility. Written like an almost cinematic experience, the entire record feels like an experiential journey more than your run of the mill album. There’s far more going on here than just what the music may let you hear. Through little skits, narrative embellishes scattered in voice notes and records, alongside an overarching aesthetic that just oozes a larger than life cinematic scale and feeling, Manos’ character becomes a protagonist you can’t help but want to learn and understand more about.
Although the obvious inspiration in both sound and style comes from Western movies and bluegrass music, there’s also a certain spaciousness and atmospheric quality to the production that lends itself to being even more larger than life. The vocals, raspy and baritone as ever, give that heroic lone ranger feeling.
With inspiration also partially stemming from a touching story of reconciliation with his grandfather, there’s a lot to Rebel’s Twilight that the immediate outside might not let you discern. It has emotional and narrative depth in droves, and does so with a refreshingly unique sonic spin in most if not all cases.