Sulliwan Unplugged – Narri nokturn (Album Review)

When you think of rock music, the first thing that comes to mind is usually a soundscape filled with electrifying, scary and thundering sounds. However, what makes rock isn’t always merely the stereotypical instruments- a lot of what makes a genre ‘a genre’ can simply be replicated in the form of compositional modes, structures and influences, as well as percussive patterns and timbre. Meet Sulliwan Unplugged, an unconventional band in the traditional sense of rock. It is rock, but this band does not use any harsh instruments in any of their compositions, opting for a more acoustic soundscape.

Sulliwan Unplugged was formed in 1990 in Estonia, and they are typically known for their unconventional approach to rock music itself. That is their niche. The band quickly gained recognition after its inception, performing in pubs, clubs and at major festivals such as Pühajärve Beach Party and Rock Summer.

Their debut album, ‘Broken Rose’ was released in 1994 to great reception and featured popular cover tracks like ‘The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde’ and ‘Enter Sandman’. They then released their sophomore album in 1995 titled ‘Fantasies’. The album bore the hit song ‘Men’s Song’, which stayed in the top charts of the popular Estonian TV show ‘Seitse vaprat’ for nine consecutive weeks.

Sulliwan Unplugged then went through a brief hiatus and some lineup changes, eventually reuniting in 2019 with the original members to continue primarily as a concert band. They then went on to perform in several concerts, release singles, and also modify their line-up.

Straying away from their roots, they now mainly play original songs and had accumulated enough material by 2024 to release a full-length vinyl record, a release that this review will analyse. The album is called ‘Narri Nokturn’ aka Jester’s Nocturne, and because of the amount of original songs in it, it can definitely also be called their real debut album.

Upon the first few minutes of listening to this release, I have to definitely say that this release is very refreshing to my ears. I have not heard music like this in a very long time. It is a dynamic album, filled with acoustic elements that do follow the compositional intent and elements of rock, but it also has qualities beyond what is presented to us as a consumer. The album is wholesome, and also very homely. It has a rustic feel emanating from the chords, timbre and the vocals involved in the album.

There is definitely sparks of the past with the way the songs are composed and the types of chords used, but the mastering is so excellent to the point where even though the songs do feel like they have an aged influence, it appears fairly new and refreshing. This album feels like as if it were the culmination of multiple MTV Unplugged episodes all morphed into one, with the sparkliness of the acoustic guitar being complemented with a very strong and harsh edge.

All the percussive elements within this album also show detail to varying percussive patterns and even bear some sort of polyphony, as it forms the heartbeat of the heartwarming songs that discern this release from others. It has a three-dimensional quality, a typical sign of proficient art- to be able to immerse you into the world of the music and make you forget about anything else.

The intersection of the percussion and the notes used for the chords also give this entire release a pseudo-Medieval feel, which also helps the aesthetic value of the album. It has its place in history, and a familiarity within the modes of European music subcultures.

Another stellar point of this release is the delicate and astute songwriting that laces this album. The songs come with stories that are immensely deep and enriching, and it shows in the way the lyrics are executed as well. The main vocalist’s voice always blares with a sense of wisdom in the tone of his voice, and the background vocals carry the weight of his voice to distribute it, all within the tapestry of stories that include deeper variants of love, existentialism as well as extremely potent emotions.

All in all, I think ‘Narri Nokturn’ is a wonderful album even for people who may not be otherwise tuned to the world of rock. Sulliwan Unplugged’s interesting and unique approach to the rhythm and motif of rock music helps to create a deeper sonic experience, and that translates to the quality of the music generally being high enough to have a sense of ‘universal musicality’. It straddles the lines between folk, medieval, ballad and even psychedelic at some point- packaging all of the essences of a wholesome, homely aesthetic in one tiny packet.

Score/Excellent: Sulliwan Unplugged definitely shines with their newest release, titled ‘Narri Nokturn’. The songs on this album emanate a golden, heartfelt feeling that almost makes you wonder what took them so long to stop relying on merely covers. It is a genuine body of work, filled with genuine emotion mixed with musical competency.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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