The Swell Fellas – Novaturia

 

 

The Swell Fellas – Novaturia
Self released – 2022
Rock, Psych, Prog, Stoner
Rated: *****

I think I mentioned it before, but that prog rock touch that has been so prevalent of late, on many of the great releases, keeps getting my utmost attention. It tickles every fibre of my being and uplifts my spirt, heart and mind. I wonder if others experience that same sort of feeling, or if it’s just my warped brain. Especially the records that move towards the grandiose prog, the heavy atmospheric or the wild psychedelic avenues immediately charm their way into my soul, and guess what, the three hip cats from The Swell Fellas walk their silly walk exactly in the middle of those streets on their newest release Novaturia. Clocking only thirty-three minutes, the five tracks slowly build into this oscillating, swirling maelstrom of heavy rock. All the while painting those extremely wild and colorful vistas, the ones that will make you dream and never want to wake up from. Which probably makes it a good thing the album only lasts for thirty-three minutes. The three sound like this (s)well-oiled machine, knowing its every cog, its every gear and how they fit perfectly together. And with two of the three being brothers, it seems like a logical conclusion, but going back to their first release The Big Grand Entrance from 2020 you can hear they were still searching for that unnamable thing they did find on the new Novaturia record. The transition for instance from Wet Cement into that …Another Realm track, and how it seems to translate being overwhelmed by something in those first moments, slowly but surely accepting its ultimate beauty. And being a closing track, it also feels like a definitive conclusion, to ensure us that The Swell Fellas have found their sound, that they dare to maneuver within those set boundaries, just listen for example to all those different vocalizations in that final track, and that they will continue to push those boundaries ever wider, ever wilder and with ever more exotic touches. And to continue to search for something they cannot name…

(Written by JK)

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