aaamusic | On 12, Feb 2011

Natalie Felker’s beautiful voice attends upon the project The Fervor, American indie band that realized Arise, Great Warrior, album that makes a big impact.

On a classical rock structure built by Michael Campbell (bass), Matt Herron (drums) e Ben Felker (guitarist and Natalie’s husband) we can recognize the unmistakable vintage sounds of Wurlitzer and Fender Rhodes played by the histrionic Natalie herself, whose amazing voice has been often compared to the late Karen Carpenter.

Arise, Great Warrior, the eponymous opening track is a tune to be listened to again and again, it is melancholic and gently hypnotic till the explosion of its refrain. Lead me is a very remarkable tune, full of backbeats, enriched by Natalie’s wonderful performance.

The sound of a dirty organ is peculiar to Clearly as the Sun whereas the rhythmic base and backing vocals created by Herron, Campbell and Ben Felker swing Crazy for the feeling, the best track of the album together with the first one.

A blues piano/ honky-tonk intro opens the last tune titled Let’s get loaded, it seems that you’re listening to a less glossy and rougher version of Blondie.

In the end Arise, Great Warrior is a charming and at the same time energetic album, so I can only recommend it.

Author: Luca Cirillo