The busy chaps at Bearsuit are at it again. One of their earliest and most prolific signings, Nono has been entertaining and puzzling us with his eclectic blend of post-pop tempered with dashes of electronic glitches and tinkling cinematic soundtrack skirmishes for over a dozen years.

He’s mellowed a bit in his olden years and presents us with a dreamy collection of instrumentals that transport the listener to the far reaches of the titular Baltic Sea island off the coast of southern Sweden. ‘Raukar’ opens in a sea of desolation, an ominous piano daydreaming in an adjacent room, with Nono’s trademark embellishments enhancing the unsettling mood—the perfect soundtrack to that Bergman/Lynch collaboration that only exists in our (and Nono’s) mind.

‘Hour Of The Wolf’ harkens back to his glitchy beginnings, electric pulses afloat in a sea of tranquility, with danger hiding around every corner. Middle-of-the-night horrors to accompany your deepest nightmares. ‘Broa Kiosken’ pays tribute to a cute café where you can enjoy a coffee, ice cream, and other quick takeaways for your ferry ride to the island. It’s rather somber and reflective, and one can imagine Nono enjoying the fantastic views from his table by the window as he contemplates what awaits him at the end of his journey.

<a href="https://bearsuitrecords.bandcamp.com/album/faro">Faro by Harold Nono</a>

The self-explanatory ‘Sketch For Faro’ may best be experienced while on the actual ferry across the Baltic as Faro comes into view in the distance. It feels like a majestic entrance theme to some magical island where all your dreams can come true and all your desires will be satisfied. I’m off to pack while you enjoy the music!

Jeff Penczak

Harold Nono – ‘Faro’ EP (Bearsuit Records 2025)