What do you get when you take a man back from driving round America in an old beat-up Chevy writing songs, a man bored of Glasgow and recently moved to Amsterdam, and a couple of good mates? … Drawing a blank? The answer is Sur Nilsson. This four piece’s origins may sound a bit rag tag but there is nothing rag tag about their music. Their self-titled EP preview is two songs long and each is in its own way is different whilst retaining a distinctive sound that when heard leaves you in no doubt as to who it’s by. This for me is always a sign that a band has hit on something good.
The first song of the preview is called “Oh No (It’s Done)” and boasts a nice upbeat feel with good harmonies and guitars that set a pleasant pace. The bridge has a Vampire Weekend feel to it and certainly as the song progresses the layers start to fuse beautifully, which allows the listener to hear something new each time. For me it is exactly the sort of song I would be listening to if I were driving around the Rockies passing placid lakes and scenic views.
“Lights”, the other song, has a different feel; this song feels more serious and a little darker. This is aided by a heavy bass line that asserts itself early and doesn’t let go. That works for me as I am a sucker for a dominant bass part and this is as dominant as they come. Think Fleetwood Mac‘s ”The Chain” if you want an idea. However this song isn’t all bass: the nice harmonies remain and the cymbally drums give the song a more dramatic feel, and just in case that wasn’t enough there is also powerful guitar bridge just to add a bit of spice.
Sur Nilsson’s EP is out at the end of October and if you can’t wait that long then then download the preview from their bandcamp page below. For the rest of the year they’re doing a bunch of shows in Holland, Belgium, and Germany and plan to come to the UK early next year.
Connect with Sur Nillson – Facebook | Twitter | Website | Bandcamp | Souncloud
