Review GAUPA ‘Live at Monkey Moon Studios’ – EP

Gaupa belongs to the exciting newcomers when we talk about retro inspired rock. Equipped with a doomy vibe the band started their journey in 2017 and it was the debut ‘Feberdröm’ which brought the band some attention. Release date was in 2020 and it was Nuclear Blast Records who signed the band.

‘Myriad’ was the sophomore album of the Falun-based outfit and now it is an interesting EP that will hit the shelves.

‘Live at Monkey Moon Studios’ is a two track-featuring release that still comes with a solid playing time. The recording dates to May 2023 when Gaupa was part of the Desertfest line-up in London as well as in Berlin. Following these live shows the band went to Monkey Moon Recordings in Dortmund, Germany used one afternoon to record the tracks fpr this release. Each of the songs was recorded live in the studio and it starts with an eleven-minute blend of two songs. ‘Sömnen’ from the latest album and ‘Febersvan’ from the very first EP represent the finest Gaupa have delivered. It is an intensive as well as a psychedelic moment the mirrors the beauty of retro-inspired rock. Soulful and emotionally loaded this ‘medley’ impresses and the same goes for the powerful ‘Moloken’. Both songs reflect improvisation in the context of the original songs, showing the bands passion and sense for live music.

‘Live at Monkey Moon Studios’ shows a young and hungry band that lives for their music. Soul-warming and emotionally intense, that is what this in-between release reflects and hereby enables listeners to dive into the world of sounds for 17 minutes, being a welcomed distraction from daily life.