Nobody – Neurotic Age EP
Nobody – Neurotic Age EP
Inverse Records
Release Date: 15/08/2024
Review by Laura Barnes
10/10
I miss Johnny Cash. There was something so compelling about a sad ol’ goth cowboy, vowing to only wear black until the world becomes a less cruel place. Stripped back and raw, his “American” series of albums were a testament to just how much could be accomplished by one person and a guitar. Free of the bells, whistles and mouth organs that usually characterise country music, “American IV” was pure songwriting, pure emotion, pure talent.
I bring this up now only because “Neurotic Age”, the latest release to grace my review list, resurrects a lot of the same thoughts and feelings I had when I first discovered Johnny Cash. Political but not preachy, thoughtful but not naval-gazing, Finnish one-man Folk act Nobody occupies a similar space that Johnny Cash once did. A wanderer that is cursed to observe the cruelty of man, but is also powerless to stop it.
The EP opens with ‘Stronger Than Dead’, a haunting campfire song that seems half parable and half horror story. Everything about this track is perfect. From the echoing guitar melodies to Tuomas Kauppinen’s reaper-deep voice, every element works in harmony to paint a rain-drenched wasteland dotted with tumbleweeds.
Following track ‘Bullies’ is a lot more Leonard Cohen than Poor Man’s Poison, but it is equally as compelling. A song about school bullying could easily be sensationalist and glib, but Nobody manages to avoid this trap by digging into why this problem is so pervasive, taking aim at politicians that gut education funding until there is nothing left. The song is carried by a melancholy acoustic riff that repeats, repeats, and repeats, reflecting the never-ending cycle of the violence that takes place in schools.
‘Dwarves of Bremen’ is equally as fascinating. This song draws attention to the insidious human tendency to publicly shame and ridicule those who are visibly different to us. Much like the opening track, ‘Dwarves of Bremen’ is haunting, but for a very different reason. Where ‘Stronger Than Dead’ is haunting in the same vein as a ghost story, ‘Dwarves of Bremen’ is haunting for its stark similarity to reality. Sonically, this track has an air of the medieval about it, featuring complex folk guitar arrangements that wouldn’t be too out of place at a renaissance fair.
The EP closes with ‘Godslayer’, and it’s a lot less extreme than the title implies. This track is laced with a tinge of the psychedelic, and would certainly be well placed on a playlist with bands like Led Zepplin and Ashbury.
Let’s be clear, “Neurotic Age” probably isn’t the kind of thing you wanna be listening to if you’re going through a particularly hard time. Though short, it is a thematically heavy release, best suited for a quiet, thoughtful night. This display of simple yet impactful Folk music is part of a long tradition that uses songwriting as a means to share fantastical stories and bolster social change. If there is indeed a heaven, I just know Mr. Cash is jammin’ out to this as we speak.
TRACKLISTING
01. Stronger Than Dead
02. Bullies
03. Dwarves of Bremen
04. Godslayer
LINE-UP
Tuomas Kauppinen – Everything
LINKS
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Laura Barnes and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
