norey - untie your arms

NoRey

Untie Your Arms
self-released; 2013

3.6 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo

NoRey unravels an intricate fabric that was once woven with several different genres, yet together, the band creates a cohesive quilt of acoustic-like folk rock. NoRey hails from Seattle, Washington and throughout the years the band has garnered a following and at the same time their sound has evolved to what we hear on their album Untie Your Arms. At times, the sound reminds me of mellow rock bands from the eighties like The Smiths and Depeche Mode that are simultaneously infused with indie-folk rock sounds.

The song “How’s It All” is a great track that I can just imagine being blasted across a happy, dancing crowd on a moonlit night. There is an anchoring chorus that is so inviting, while the background music is keeping a very pleasant and almost ethereal beat that gives the song so much light air you feel as though you might just float away. The repetition of the lyrics “Where’s this going to go,” are very simple but give a reminder of the current moment and how we can all relate to the uncertainties of the future.

The following track “Across the Country” is a more upbeat song and really has a southern twang to it. It almost sounds like there is a banjo a-strumming and someone is harping on an old-school washboard to create the rigid percussions. There are nice breaks in between the build-ups and there is a really infectious wang sound of the guitar that makes your mind do a double-take. The song seems typical at any moment, but when you bring it all together, it embodies a really unique composition.

Overall the band emits a mellow rock sound that is great for easy listening as well as rocking out. The main vocalist’s unique tone gives a sense of vintage style and a bit of history and at times a foreign accent comes through. This combined with the style of music gives NoRey a unique sound and each distinct member opens up the listener to a new experience through both dynamic lyrics and sound.

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