Erik & the Worldly Savages
Future Thunder Void
(Rising Nomad)

A dirge-like beat and Dusan Munisic’s trumpet pick us up and drop us down into “Thunder in Our Hearts,” the first tune off Erik & the Worldly Savages new EP Future Thunder Void.

Band leader here, Erik Mut tries best he can with his limited vocal range, but he makes a clear point from the jump, that his folk/punk approach (whatever that means) reveals a singular expression across these six.  Outfitting themselves even better on second tune, “Embrace the Void,” drummer Milan Yegy Jejina and bassist Caspar Winberg provide a chunky background to Mut looking for meaning. This jaunty tune really captures you close, especially with the repetitive chorus and there is Dusan Munisic’s trumpet once again, with Milan Jeftic’s sax adding perfect counterpoint.

“Letter Back Home,” and “Future” pick up the tail end here. “Letter Back Home,” has a slightly more positive outlook to the lyric (of course one need be careful with how positive we think Mut might be getting). But this one has the full push of the horns and a strong harmony in the chorus. This is probably, for me, Mut’s best vocal on all of Future Thunder Void.

“Future,” has a swaying Bossa Nova-like beat, a sweet ender to all that went before, I feel. There’s great electric guitar lines here, single lead noodles as well as little flip offs in the background, from (could be from either guitarist listed in the credits here) Milan Djordjevic or Gojko Maric.

Back in the mélange is also accordionist Luka Lopicic, just to be fair of all the musicians who help Erik Mut to open his full void to us here.