Nymbus-Nymbus (Sok-Deege)
Meandering guitar bridges. Steadily swaying basslines. Trickling piano arrangements. Fortifying, spine-like drums. Disaffected lyrics laced with sandy vocals.
To relegate Chapel Hill-based Nymbus into these oversimplified clauses would-without a doubt-be injustice.
Duke alumni and former members of The Fourth Story-gutarist Greg Martinez ('96], bassist Hugh Eaton ['97), keyboardist David Morton ['96) and lead vocalist Sam Nitze ('95)-are joined up by drummer Springs Charlotte. Together, they propagate the collective musical consciousness of Nymbus.
The band's self-titled album objectifies that particular consciousness. Each member appropriates his respective influences that are both disparate and similar; yet, the coalescence is the least bit awkward.
Each track in the album accentuates particular genre elements-one more than the other-as if they are vying for individuality.
The opening track "Release," definitely touts funk, while "No Telling" is embedded with rhythimic scheme tinged with reggae. "Underground" is a little more jazzy; "Move" capitalizes more on pop.
A single element is ubiquitous in all of the tracks, however: the lead guitarist Greg Martinez's classic streamline of guitar solos that elicits the memory and essence of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn, particularly in "Release" and "Reconsider."
Instead of blurring or muddling their conceptual focus, Nymbus' conflicting interests obliterate the serrated edges of clichéd sounds. They answer the musical commonplace with a smoothly sanded aural manifestation-grounded in the most primal qualities of jazz, blues, funk reggae and classic rock.
Joined by Grasshoppper Highway, Nymbus will be performing at the Cat's Cradle on February 10. The band can be contacted via their website http://www. nymbus.com.
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