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Reviews

Fooks Nihil — Tranquility
(Bandcamp no#, 2022, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2022-06-18

Tranquility Cover art

With their second album, Fooks Nihil has broadened their sound beyond the 60s California vibe that permeated their debut. There’s still a retro feel, but there are elements inspired by British Invasion and Motown-inflected soul-jazz as well. You’ll hear strong melodic lead vocals, tightly arranged backing vocals, groovy bass lines, and tasty guitar all through Tranquility, along with the occasional combo organ, sitar, and jangly acoustic guitar. The rhythms bounce along, and the melodies will get lodged in your brain. Sometimes I’m reminded of what the Zombies might have sounded like if the guitars dominated the arrangements instead of keyboards. The greater variety in sounds serves the band well, and shows that Fooks Nihil isn’t just a one-trick pony. Several of the tracks are played just a little bit slower than it seems they should be, which turns out to be a plus once the grooves kick in, as there’s a very appealing sense of easy-going relaxation to the songs. Another expected factor of 60s rock that they completely avoid is fuzz guitar, opting instead for clean, bright tones. Only rarely is there a touch of distortion on the guitar, and never anything buzzy or sustained. These tracks put the listener in the mood for mellow days at California beaches or maybe in the hills above the coast, where the grittier aspects of life don’t intrude.

Filed under: New releases, 2022 releases

Related artist(s): Fooks Nihil

More info
http://fooksnihil.bandcamp.com/album/tranquility

 

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