NAEVUS

"Silent Life"

Hau Ruck! - 2007

CD

Fifth release for the exquisite British duo Naevus, this time directly under the banner of Hau Ruck!. Lloyd James and Joanne Owen offer in "Silent Life" a collection of eight new songs, between psychedelic dark folk and art rock, departing even more remarkably from the original neofolk roots to embrace the lesson of Swans, Nick Cave, or even The Legendary Pink Dots. Acoustic and electric guitar, drums, hypnotic and shadowy melodies, acid-tasted keyboards and piano are the ingredients of this enjoyable and refined cocktail.

Several guests add their talents to boost Naevus' music to the highest level: John Murphy is on drums, Rose McDowall contributes with her famous fairy voice, David E. Williams plays keys, and Matt Howden sticks his magic violin in two episodes. With such exclusive team, the results couldn't be but outstanding. Each of the eight song, indeed, stands on its own with a slightly different approach and the distinctive likeness of a classic: the initial ride of "Spring Summer Railway", the following dream of "Castles In Spain", with its crazy Doors-alike organ, dark and obsessive "Kill Your Friends", the almost poppy anthem "Hasty Bastard", the powerful electric wall of "The Ballad Of Benjamin Munt", the catchy rhymes and piano tunes of "White Love", and the final elegy of "Dominic Song". Everything seems to be at the right place and perfectly conducted by Lloyd James' haunting vocals.

Undoubtedly, "Silent Life" is Naevus' most accomplished effort to the present, as well as a breath of fresh air in a scene that, a few years ago, was suffocating. The British duo shows how certain common atmospheres and moods of the neofolk imagery can be transferred into other territories and blend together with refined and elegant rock sounds, generating in the process a fantastic alchemy of melodies and rhythms. Well done!

- Simon V.

Website: http://www.naevus.co.uk/start.htm

Myspace: http://www.hauruck.org