Jeniferever – Nangijala EP
Club AC30
Review by M Henaghan
6/10
Jeniferever, a quintet form Uppsalla , Sweden , are a collective in every sense of the word. For not one instrument takes centre stage in the dynamic of this group, be it the intricate, guitar interplay, the Robert Smith-aping vocals of Kristofer Jönson or indeed the grand brass and string instrumentation the band prefer to pepper their songs with. Each note on this three-tracker appears to be perfectly measured with slide-rule precision, each playing a part that is equally important as the rest. Clearly this lot approve of the ‘there is no I in team’ school of thought.
Which results in the rather pleasant, ‘Nangijala EP’. Pleasant in the sense that, every song featured here is a perfectly crafted, expertly executed slice of modern indie pop. Not particularly challenging, but just on the right side of safe. ‘When Our Hands Clasped’ features splashing’s of twinkling piano over a generic, indie-lite backdrop and nondescript vocal murmurs. Several minutes pass by, very little of note happens and the band seem content going nowhere. Until, as if wakened from a slumber, they launch into a glorious segment of orchestral grandeur and choral chanting, as if they had been intending to lull the listener into a false sense of security all along. In one fell swoop they move from being Semisonic to Sigur Ros, the turnaround is that dramatic.
‘Opening to Stories’ and the ‘Nangijala’ itself, both repeat this trick, though the former is most successful, flirting with dull instrumentation and low-key vocals before unleashing a highly textured fog of orchestral splendor and aching harmonies, just at the moment your patience is at breaking point. Again, it is entirely engaging, almost as if it is two separate bands playing each part.
In truth, it is such grandiose crescendo’s that save the day for Jeniferever, where fizzing keys meets baronial brass, striking strings, gleaming guitar and velvety vocals to create a series of driving, majestic climaxes. This is all well and good over a three-track release, though you would hope they have more, than this trick, up their sleeve for an album’s worth material. Hopefully, Jeniferever aren’t just going through the motions.