The self-titled album “NEY”, is a remarkable and stunning debut of the musicians of the same name. Making their grand entrance as a trio a memorable one, there is a lot to unpack when it comes to the intricacy and the attention to detail that NEY has placed into their craft.
While there are only two tracks to dissect in NEY’s first work, the songs in the album definitely pack a lot of punch. And “raw” is an understatement to the depths of intimacy that was evidently explored in the creation of an artistic product that will definitely leave a lasting mark on its listeners.
Composed of members Lisa Fabian, Matt Robin, and Eddie Brooks, NEY is a budding trio that seeks to stretch the limits of the unexplored spaces in music.
This daring and bold feat performed by the group in crafting their debut album has many evident traces in the final output. The emotional and musical complexity that NEY can flawlessly deliver is in full display. And it is a spectacular feat indeed.
While spontaneity is one thing to describe and brand NEY, the album traverses even broader horizons than what is already seen at the surface. Elements of the pagan and occult among many other mystic wonders are creatively explored in the thought-provoking album.
The formation of the music group NEY also adds even more weight to the already established thematic elements of the album that they were able to come up with together.
It all began during the recent COVID-19 pandemic when Lisa Fabian had compiled her memories, thoughts, and melodies into a musical structure that further amplifies the feelings that she has already poured out to the world.
Dealing with grief from the loss of a loved one, Fabian had begun exploring the realm of fantasy in an attempt to interpret and give symbolic life to the emotions brewing from within.
And, gaining access to music production workshops at Glasgow’s infamous Green Door Studio, Fabian had united with fellow talented musicians Eddie Brooks and Matt Robin to collaborate on an improvised recording session that will eventually be the origin story for NEY and their debut album.
Beginning with the track “Gestalt der Dämmerung (figure of dusk)”, ominous Swedish and German chants are accompanied by the raw and spontaneous sounds of echoing electric guitars, random buzzes, and a haunting percussive rhythm.
The following track is titled, “Listen to the water” which enchants listeners with a more prominent medieval tone in the song’s prelude. The song then escalates — or rather descends — into a more haunting melodic atmosphere that grips listeners all throughout.
Both songs are riddled with elements of fantasy and a deep level of intimacy that can only be achieved with a full-fledged and raw unity of music that goes beyond the mere production of notes.
NEY is an album that unites the band’s memories together to create a melodic narrative out of raw harmonies and scattered thoughts. Exemplifying the very essence of experimental music.
Mashing together an unapologetic use of musical instruments, a spontaneous collective mindset, and the use of different locations to further settle in the target aura of the album, NEY is a perfect concoction of raw musical prowess at its finest.
