Sweden has once again proven that there must be something in the water over there that fuels some of the most fantastic music I listen to.\u00a0 Graveyard, Siena Root, Lykantropi, and Children of the Sun are just a handful of bands that have turned my head over the years.\u00a0 The bands mentioned above all have their sound rooted in the classic \u201860s and \u201870s hard\/psych\/occult rock movement.\u00a0 Nephila, however, is something a bit different and quite a bit surprising for me.<\/p>\n
Nephila\u2019s self-titled debut album was a real treat to listen to.\u00a0 Featuring Children of the Sun songwriter\/guitarist Jacob Hellenrud, Nephila is more than just one particular influence.\u00a0 The opening song \u201cWhite Bones\u201d sounds like it could be a \u201890s jam band classic featuring the dual vocals of Stina Olsson and Josephine Asker.\u00a0 Having two lead vocalists leaves very little room for error these two women make it sound effortless as their voices make dips and rises in dynamic.\u00a0 \u201cMushroom Creature\u201d sounds like it very well could have been a Jefferson Airplane song.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuidance to Agony\u201d starts with a head-nodding groove, only to slip into a very Doors-esque vibe.\u00a0 Once again, the vocals are out of this world, and hearing these two voices together sounds as if they were born to sing with each other.\u00a0 As much as I love this album as a whole, \u201cBelladonna\u201d is the showstopper of this album. \u00a0\u201cBelladonna\u201d beckons back to the \u201870s progressive masters such as Rush and even Yes, thanks to the outstanding synth intro by keyboardist Johan Larsson.\u00a0 Asker and Olsson\u2019s vocals are lush, inspired, and moving, and this is a song that got quite a few re-listens.<\/p>\n
Over the years, I have come to expect a particular style of music that I lovingly refer to as the \u201cSwedish Sound,\u201d but Nephila steps out from the \u201csound\u201d and offers something different and refreshing.\u00a0 As much as I love the occult and psychedelic-laden music of many bands, it\u2019s a real treat to hear a young band find a way to encapsulate all of the aspects of the Swedish Sound that I love.\u00a0 Nephila managed to create an infectious blend of harmony vocals, catchy hooks, and engaging and thoughtful lyrics backed by tight yet fluid musicianship.<\/p>\n
Nephila is a band that has something for everyone.\u00a0 When I think of a band that people who genuinely love music listen to, Nephila fits that description to a \u201ct.\u201d\u00a0 Nephila is a sigh of relief for this old fart who is just happy to see the younger generation keeping the best music alive for a whole new generation.\u00a0 Heads up, music freaks.\u00a0 Nephila is a band to keep your eyes and ears on.<\/p>\n