Oh NYMPH, where have you been all my recent life!? From the moment of my musical maturation, it’s like a tiny light has been flickering inside my being, calling out for some revitalizing amalgam of free jazz, psychedelic rock, and music of vaguely Middle Eastern inspiration. Sun City Girls, it may said, capably filled that role at various points, but I can’t tell you how enamored I am to hear that NYMPH haven’t gone the route of the equally psychedelic Magic Lantern and preemptively called it quits, despite the warm reception. Instead, they’ve rescinded their social registration and signed with Northern Spy, through which they’ll be releasing their second LP (and first for the label) New Millennium Prayer on June 25.
A few notes on the band’s history: despite having but one formal release under their belt so far, NYMPH have been active participants in the New York psych scene for seven years, starting off as a project of Matty McDermott and Eri Shoji, who later expanded the band to its now seven-member composition. Since 2011, they’ve doubled as The New Quiet Screamers and served as the ensemble under free jazz musician Arthur Doyle, through whom they’ve undoubtedly honed their improvisational chops.
That would make New Millennium Prayer the band’s first release since The New Quiet Screamers became a thing. Anticipate it, supporting live dates, and coax your spirit over yonder with older track “U.F.O. Over Dome Rock.”
• NYMPH: https://www.facebook.com/bandofnymph
• Northern Spy: http://northernspyrecords.com