NeRV - NeRV

NeRV

NeRV
self-released; 2017

3.9 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

NeRV is a  rock/blues/folk duo based in Melbourne, Australia that happen to brothers and just released a self-titled album NeRV. Neil and Tim Robertson are long time musicians but also accomplished a lot more in different fields. Neil has worked as a mine geologist, environmental scientist, project manager, audio engineer and high school physics teacher.

​He currently runs the Decibels Youth Music Studio. Tim has spent a large portion of his life working in global conflict zones. He spent his early career with the military serving throughout Middle East, Afghanistan, Asia and Africa. The reason I bring this up is because I was trying to see how these life experiences reflected in their music. The answer is not as much as I thought.

​Some songs like “KEEP THE PRESSURE ON” had a feeling of revolution, almost political. On this song the spirit of  Neil Young and The Who came to mind. Other songs almost felt like the complete opposite. The most contrasting juxtaposition was “RICHARD BRANSON'S HAIR" which felt down right silly from a lyrical perspective and had the same levity of song like “Penny Lane.” I liked both songs for different reasons but the overall vibe and feel did not make the songs feel connected to a singular vision. That's really as divided as the album becomes. There are other songs with less obvious degrees of separation. 

“CONSPIRACY THEORY” is another song that has a bit of the revolutionary ’60s vibe. The lyrics predictably bring up major events that many conspiracists have been talking about for decades. He sings, “I can’t help wondering when JFK was attacked / How a bullet from above and behind blew his head front to back / And I ate in a diner in Roswell where aliens go / And the Apollo moon landing was filmed in a lot studio.”

“CRAWLIN'” seems to be a tip of the hat directly to Neil Young. I even thought he sounded like Neil Young on this track when he sang. “LIVE IT” is a fun rock/pop song with some lyrical platitudes that were forgivable because of the way they were delivered. He sings, “And we don’t live too long so lock it in and bring it on Life is just a moment, nothing more so take it on.”

There is no arguing that NeRV wear their influence on their sleeves. The songs on this album are heavily glazed in inspirational rock and folk legends from the ’60s and the ’70s. Luckily, they can also write a song and know how to deliver it. 

Overall, the good outweighed the questionable and I can give this album two thumbs up. If you have been reading this, the album will obviously be a no brainer for fans of some of the aforementioned bands.

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