Sennen - Lost Harmony Album Review
Lost Harmony is an uplifting, elegant, liberating album that lifts Sennen’s sound closer to paradise than ever before.
rating: 4.5
Website: www.sennen.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/sennen Released: April 16th, 2012 Since their first record, Widows, was released in 2005, Sennen have been formulating and building their quietly gigantic sound from the bottom of the structure until they got to the penthouse suite at the top, today. Unlike the more traditional craftsmen, though, the four-piece didnt need hammers and nails, hardhats and bricks, scaffolding and ladders. All they needed was a bit of inspiration, creativity, judgement and a concise idea of what they wanted to achieve. They had these. Now all they needed was a studio, paper and pen/laptop, a bit of belief from labels and fans alike and luck. They had these, also. The result of all these aspects is a band who can produce the most melancholic of tracks yet still elevate you to someplace new, a place reserved for music which can really punch a hole in your heart and stitch it back up with a compassionate tenderness as easily and as effortlessly as it is for them to play that first striking chord. Upon its release, Widows was subject to critical acclaim and its perhaps the more habitual album the band has produced. It points clearly to the early influences the band held close: My Bloody Valentine, Mogwai, Spiritualized etc, whereas the following releases moved and shifted away from a sound so clearly influenced by others. Widows, though, was an excellent starting point for the band to progress from and it truly was the first stroke of the painting of the bands musical landscape. Rather than Sennen having to plug away for a few more albums until they received attention, their debut was such an exhilarating, ethereal piece of work that they could start adding the colours to their painting right away. The following albums, Where The Light Gets In, and Age Of Denial furthered the bands reputation as one who could pull at your heartstrings while still maintaining a high level of nonchalant pleasure and of bringing memories of carefree good times to the listener. It was perhaps the bands ability to be accessible to everyone and to possess a sound that was both laid-back and memorable that resulted in their cover of New Orders Bizarre Love Triangle being used in hit US TV show One Tree Hill, and for their track S.O.S. being featured in another hit US TV show, True Blood. Looking at this, you could say that Sennen have been more popular on the other side of the Atlantic than over here but to say that would be false. Their technicolour amalgamation of alternative rock, shoegaze, post-rock and indie has also allowed them to tap into the niche British market for bands who truly bring something new to the sometimes dry, overdone British scene. Thankfully, that seems to be in the past as there are a lot of exciting new underground British bands threatening to burst out, but Sennen dont have to worry about them their place is well and firmly established. This forty minute album not only shows Sennen in a more revealing light than ever before, it also shows the band seemingly fresher and more mature, as if they know themselves now that they dont need to have any doubt in their abilities the subtle shades, lingering melodies, imaginative arrangements and sweet melancholy show a fresh perspective from a band who themselves, may not have anticipated making such a record. In turn, a distinct delight and a newly-found embrace within the music and the musicians appears, producing a personable feel almost as if youve walked in on a private moment and a sound which, quite simply, the band havent surpassed before. Its got so many gorgeous moments that itd be impossible to review all of them, so Ill do my best to mention particular highlights. Wasted Heart has a heartfelt, intimate guitar thats brimming with evocative melody and delicate passion. The vocals are as clear as water and the lyrics as smooth as silk, balancing nicely between composure and heartbreak making for a cherished listen, a listen which will resonate with everyone. The line of theres a hundred different ways of wasting my heart clutches you close and then peels away with the guitar as the song strides on, leaving you behind in a dream of regret, belief and lost remembrance. http://youtu.be/KrhWf6xJaRM The acoustic guitar in Standing Still adds a real sense of closeness to the track. Its as if youre there with the band, watching them. The melodic guitar which peeks in now and then adds its own sense of closeness the closeness of a studio. This is perhaps the best produced and structured track on offer, and the happy-go-lucky feel the band have gone for has really been tapped into. The beautiful strings which appear throw in a sense of loss and bleakness but the guitars, vocals and drums ensure the satisfaction of the song lies in the bright feel that surrounds them. The last track, I Watched The End With You, really lives up to its name. It has romantic connotations, which live in the terrifically haunting strings section, a sense of bleakness, which fluctuates around the slow-paced guitars and drums, and the heartbreak which is crammed into the vocals, especially with the line I miss you even more today, sets this track apart from the rest as it has layers which can take hours, days, to realise, and it may command you to listen for that long until its full effect can be found. Its imaginable that in a live setting this track will be a favourite, and I wouldnt be surprised to hear it on another TV show soon. A beautiful end to an equally as endearing album. http://youtu.be/gJX7ElMqq_w Lost Harmony is an uplifting, elegant, liberating album that lifts Sennens sound closer to paradise than ever before. After listening, the term guilty pleasure may not be relevant anymore. After all, when a record makes you feel this good why feel guilty about it?