This week, I’m going to introduce you to the best new band of 2010 you never heard about: Lumos + Nox. This two-person band from somewhere in the US, like, Ohio or one of the other boring states, jumped into the scene in early 2010 with what I regarded as a big splash – a new band with an interesting concept and a great first track. I expected great things from then. Unfortunately, after releasing three songs they completely disappeared, leaving us with a few good songs and a lot of unfulfilled promise.

So, what is Lumos + Nox, and what made them so unique? Well, long-time readers know that I have a particular penchant for fanfic-as-song – tracks about things that didn’t really happen in the books, or new perspectives on the series, basically, many of the great things about fanfic itself, except in more concise, musical form. For example, my previous look at Fawkes trumpeted his great exploration into this concept with his two-parter about Wizards Fighting Robots (!!!!!!!!).

However, Lumos + Nox did what to my recollection no other band did, and certainly no other band did as well – come up with two original characters, and musically explore the lives of two normal Hogwarts students living in the shadows of giants, as the background to history in the making. While such concepts usually make for rather boring fanfic and just an excuse for the author’s self insert to make out with Sirius Black or seduce Snape or whatever, it made for eminently listenable wizard rock.

The main conceit is that it tells the tale of two Hogwarts students, Ravenclaw boy Lumos, and Slytherin girl Nox, and the relationship they must keep secret from the other houses. The strange way that there is both overlap and distrust between Ravenclaw and Slytherin was something I always thought of as an interesting dynamic that was never truly explored enough. This secret relationship is a fun and cute way to get the listener interested in the characters, making the duet songs more sweet, and adding some spice to the solo songs.

The first, and best song by the band is “When You’re Snogging”, a fun duet with a very catchy chorus that makes good use of the play between male and female voices. It’s got fun lines like “I should be beating up Hufflepuffs but instead I’ve got a terrible itch / To meet you by the quidditch pitch!” and “Ravenclaw and Slytherin – it doesn’t make a difference when you’re snogging!” It’s easily one of the best songs of 2010, which was a year with a decrease in new music, but with some really great gems in what was released – The Wizcore EP, Good To See You Wallenby, Nobody Expects, How To Destroy A Horcrux Part 8, Jingle Spells 4, The Giant Squidstravaganza Presents: A New Hope: A Tribute to the Giant Squidstravaganza, and the two songs that didn’t suck on Magic is Might (not to mention great tracks by the Sweetwater All-Stars, Undesirable #1, Leth I. Fold, and the Whomping Willows). “It’s Good To See You Wallenby” is still probably my pick for best song of the year, but “When You’re Snogging” easily makes it into the top five.

Lumos + Nox also released two songs, each from one character’s point of view (and thus, mostly sung by just one member of the band, with some help on the chori). “Hermione, You’re No Help From Me” tells us the tale of Lumos finding a mysterious book that seems to be about dark magic, and trying to figure it out. Teachers are no good, Knockturn Alley is no place for upstanding Ravenclaws to be seen, and Hermione refuses to help. The song has a dark musical aesthetic, catchy instrumentals, and a humorous ending. I particularly like the emphasis on why Lumos wishes to decode the book on dark magic – not for power, or to hurt his foes – instead, he cries “Why can’t this knowledge be mine?” It’s a great commentary on the lengths Ravenclaws will go to sate their curiosity.

And lastly, we have “Famous Like Draco”, a song from Nox’s perspective about being and doing all the things Draco is and does, but not getting nearly the recognition he gets. There’s a fun musical dichotomy at play in how the song about the Ravenclaw called Lumos has a darker sonic sensibility to it, while the Slytherin Nox‘s song is much brighter sounding. Another fun thing about this song is while in “Hermione”, Nox’s voice was used purely as backing vocals, in “Draco”, you get more of the sense that Lumos is actually there as Nox is recording this or recounting this tale, as he sniggers about Potter getting kicked in the face, or interrupts a verse with “And a boyfriend who reads books!” with pure adorkableness, to which Nox hurriedly retorts “Secret boyfriend!”

While “When You’re Snogging” is the best track by the band, every song is great, and no song sounds too much like another, lending an admirable sense of sonic diversity to a band that pretty much only uses an acoustic and the occasional tambourine or hand claps. Unfortunately, after releasing three great songs, Lumos + Nox disappeared forever. Still, I would highly recommend heading over to their MySpace and rediscovering one of the best bands of 2010.

Next time – more wizard rock! What a surprise.

Wrock Snob out.