And here we go, once more, on an adventure into the deep and dark valleys of Nordic rock with, this time, our destination being Swedish band Gaupa and their mini album “Fyr”.
Despite being described as a mini album, “Fyr” clocks in at around the 35 minute mark and, with the intensity card being played throughout, this band’s music was never going to be lightweight. There are overtones of prog rock but the forever focused guitar of David Rosberg keeps these songs from rambling even when, as “Sömnen / Febersvan” does on its journey beyond the eleven minute barrier, the songs stretch off into the sunset. The counterpoint to these extended extemporisations is the voice of Emma Näslund. Whilst often powerful enough to hold any rock machine on course, she also stretches herself into the land of the mystical revisitation on the nature of the human voice. Call it existential if you like, and I just might, but there is a magic in the interplay between the efficient use of power chords and just what properly presented left field lyrics can bring to the party.
“Fyr” duly makes the transition from the expectations of the rock genre to the further reaches of music as an art form with a purpose of its own. Gaupa duly strike forward with confidence on this mini album and their musical journey is one that is worthy of closer inspection. Rock music, whether Swedish or not, is not usually my thing but my ears can, without doubt, hear the value in this band’s music.