User:Jimmyjrg/sandbox/Nun

Nun is a Melbourne based synth punk band formed in 2011. They have released two albums.

History
Nun started as a recording project as part of Tom Hardisty's studies at RMIT in 2011. Tom collaborated with Steven Harris, also doing the course, and Hugh Young, who he knew from playing in Melbourne bands Constant Mongrel and Woollen Kits. Jenny Branagan and Tom Hardisty had met whilst working together at Melbourne record store Missing Link, and the four members joined as Nun.

Solvents / Nun
The band released their first single Solvents on Nihilistic Orbs in 2012, which was followed by their debut self-titled album Nun in 2014, released by Aarght Records in Australia, Avant! in Italy, and HoZac Records in America. While recording their album the band where highlighted in Jimi Kritzler's book Noise in My Head: Voices from the Ugly Australian Underground. The book features interviews with several independent and underground bands, and was celebrated for its focus on notable Australian musicians who may not have received enough mainstream press.

Nun's debut album was reviewed around the world, and in Australia the Herald Sun listed it as one of the years best, while Mess+Noise praised it and wrote their album contained an "impressive number of hammering dance songs...all slightly nefarious with densely layered electronics."

Outside of Australia, the album was reviewed in Italy, Poland, and Finland, while in the US, Nun received nods from CMJ, Pitchfork, Tiny Mix Tapes, and Live Eye TV. Henry Rollins also played Nun's Kino on his NTS Radio program in 2014.

Immersion / The Dome
Following their debut album, Nun recorded a follow up in 2016, and at the beginning of 2017 they performed the new song Can't Chain on Melbourne radio station 3RRR. At the time they announced their new albumThe Dome would be out that year, but it remained unreleased until 2018. Instead the band released Immersion (With Enderie), a cassette tape / digital release featuring remixes of Immersion, a song from their debut album.

When The Dome was released in 2018, it came out on Aarght Records and HoZac Records with the delay attributed to each of the band members taking time to listen to the recordings and suggest changes, while also juggling their other bands and work commitments.

4ZZZ wrote, "The Dome takes so much that’s fierce and abrasive and -effortlessly- turns it into the approachable, the listenable, the danceable. Nun’s brand of horror really let’s you embrace the strange." Forte called it "an eclectic and atmospheric experience that will make you want to eat acid and go roller-blading." They awarded the album 4.5/5, while Forte 's sister publication Beat gave it 8/10 and claimed The Dome was "one of the most impressive synth-punk albums of 2018". It was made Album of the Week on 3RRR, who wrote The Dome 's songs were "an expression of humanity in all its complexity, driven by machine drum rhythms, synth pop hooks and compelling vocals."

Outside of Australia, Maximumrocknroll likened Nun to Siouxsie Sioux and Men's Recovery Project, and noted Nun predated "the current trend" of "darkwave synth punk records...by more than a few years".

Post-The Dome
Following the release and tour of The Dome, Nun has been inactive, but its members have continued to make synth heavy music elsewhere. Since 2013, Jenny Branagan has collaborated with Andrea Blake as VACUUM, and they released their debut album in 2021. Steven Harris has released two solo album as Pyrrhic. Tom Hardisty has released his own solo albums, and has continued to play with Constant Mongrel which also features Hugh Young.

Members

 * Jenny Branagan (Vocals and synthesiser)
 * Steven Harris (Drum machines and synthesiser)
 * Hugh Young (Synthesiser)
 * Tom Hardisty (Bass synthesiser).

Singles
Solvents, 2012

Immersion (With Enderie), 2017

Albums
Nun, 2014

The Dome, 2018