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Aha, yes. The Neph. My favourite beat combo. Goth (there, I've said it) weird sumerian stuff from the late 80s and early 90s. But there is still life:
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Title: Dust Album: Dawnrazor (1986) This, somewhat bizarrely, is the track which got me into my favorite band. I first heard this on vinyl, so it followed on from the music box sample from "Once Upon A Time in the West" at the end of Vet For The Insane. The music box stops and then you get a sample of what I think is a sign blowing in the wind from the same film. Then a guitar riff kicks in followed quickly by Carl McCoy's vocals. As with all the definitive Neph tracks it's the balanced combination of guitar, vocals and drums that set it apart from the average (but still bloody good) Neph ditty. There are two great guitar riffs in Dust, McCoy's vocals make you feel you're actually in the dust-filled desert and Nod's drums compliment the rest with just the right about of cymbals. Oddly enough this was made in the Neph's early spaghetti western period. The band used to break from recording to watch movies for "inspiration". Doesn't show does it? Dawnrazor only took a few weeks to record. I can only hope the band can rediscover this raw edge to produce albums a little more rapidly than they have of late.
Title: For Her Light (Two) 7" Single (1990) Also available on: Album: Revelations (1995) This track was lifted out of the continuous piece that forms side 1, or the first 4 tracks of Elizium. I first heard this (along with all the other Neph stuff I have) when Chris loaned his vinyl Neph collection to Steve, my flatmate at University. Steve didn't have a record player, but I did. For Her Light starts with a trademark crash of Neph guitar but the lyrics and vocals make the song. Nod's drums aren't bad either. The difference between For Her Light (Two) and original version on Elizium is an extended instrumental piece in the middle of the track - icing on the cake. It's a fairly rocky, fast-paced single of a track for the Neph.
Title: Blue Water (Live) On: Sumerland 12" single (1990) Blue Water is a powerful, loud Neph track but live it is something more. This recording starts with a light cymbal beat and vocals as Carl McCoy shouts/growls as only he can the epic first words of Blue Water: "Move back Step outside yourself Just move back Step outside yourself outside yourself" And then the band kicks in. The sheer live energy and power of the band comes through on this recording to make it something over and above the studio version. The Neph were/are reputed to be something special live and whilst it is not always translated on the Earth Inferno album, this track ably captures the essence of their live act. Buy Fields of the Nephilim from Amazon: www.fields-of-the-nephilim.com - Official site www.fieldsofthenephilim.de - a defintive fan site The Nefilim - Carl McCoy's first post FotN project Rubicon - now defunct 90s band featuring the original FotN lineup with a new vocalist Last Rites - a band including the original FotN drummer and guitarist Nod and Paul Wright NFD - a band including the original FotN bassist Tony Pettitt |
