Most reviews describe Sennen as a hybrid cross of Teenage Fanclub's harmonies and Mogwai's sonic force, so let's get that out of the way quickly. Yes, the vocal delivery, shimmering harmonies et al, does evoke memories of the Scottish power-poppers. And yes, there are some pretty loud parts too. But 'Where The Light Gets In', Sennen's debut full-length release, is so much more than that. At times, stately and beautiful, like the title track, and at others, monstrous guitar-based maelstroms, like the opening track, 'Blackout', variety is the name of the game for this group from Norwich.
Starting life as an improvisational post-rock group, Sennen have morphed themselves into a group that manages to produce music that can be immediate, restrained, aggressive, reflective, or indeed all four in one song. Take for example, 'Fear Home': starting out as possibly the most Teenage Fanclub-esque track of the album, with the aforementioned shimmering vocals and gradually building melody line, it's like someone in the group flicks a switch, detonating a flurry of roaring guitars that proceeds to overwhelm the song, and drive away the softly-sung vocals.
Elsewhere, 'A Lifetime Passed' sees them pull off achingly beautiful, heartrending melancholy. With soaring vocals, muted guitar arppegios and jangling piano chords, the song is perfect for those late summer evenings, letting the listener kick back and drift away. Another gorgeous track, 'Your Hand In Mine', sees Sennen get orchestral, as layered, ethereal vocals are joined by a soothing, wistful violin melody that gently rocks the listener to sleep, with the touching refrain, 'got your hand in mine/and I won't let go', echoing in your mind as it gently fades into the distance.
The sole instrumental of the album (with the exception of the minute-long interlude, 'Sennen Enjoy Life'), 'Where The Light Gets In' is probably the stand-out track of the album. Starting off with a twinkling keyboard riff that sounds like it was plucked from 'Zelda' or a similar Nintendo game, broken up by crescendoing soft-stick cymbals, the song slowly builds up into an orchestral tapestry, with swooning strings cutting through the ringing melodies of a loose-stringed piano, which sounds like it's on the verge of going out of tune. It's the one song of the album that brings to mind the glacial majesty of Sigur Rós and Explosions In The Sky, but it also had me thinking of the more organic offerings of The Album Leaf, circa-'In A Safe Place'. The understated drumming keeps everything dynamic, and at just over five minutes, it is the perfect marriage of immediacy, intricacy and beauty. Reminiscent of Long-View, 'Falling For You' is another beautifully heartfelt track, incorporating fantastic, marching-band drumming and a lovely sleighbell-like break. It's a very simple track that displays perfectly Sennen's ability to reconcile tuneful pop sensibilities with their post-rock roots. They even throw a classical, Spanish-guitar flavour into the mix for 'Here It Is', a pleasant change to the predominantly electric variety that dominates the album.
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That's not to suggest that Sennen forget to bring the noise, though. 'Blackout', as mentioned above, is a brutal, feedback-riven beast of a song, driven by a persistant guitar drone undercurrent that sounds like a the buzz of a few thousand angry bees, churned through a rather large amp. Kicking loose at around the 3.30 mark with an urgent guitar melody, the song is a fuzzy, distorted anthem that will surely leave so-called shoegaze fans salivating and craving the next hit. Similar in mood is the claustrophobic, convulsing rock of 'Just Wanted To Know' which picks up speed, winding itself tighter and tighter like a clockwork toy, until it's released, spinning off wildly before coming to a breathless, screaming halt.
Rounding off the album in fine style, 'Even Now' starts off with exquisite church organ rumblings that remains considered and restrained before erupting into an elegiac denouement, with angelic vocal harmonies swooping in as the song fades to black. Without a doubt, the most grandiloquent of the album, but you can permit a little bit of bombast now and again, particularly when the songs are this good, and like everything on the album, it never overstays its welcome.
'Where The Light Gets In' has been described as another contribution to the burgeoning 'nu-gaze' movement, but to simply throw this album under the shoegaze-a-like tag is to do it, and the band, a great disservice. Embracing the intricacy and imagination of post-rock but without the pompous sense of superiority, this is a beautifully thought-out album that never sacrifices emotion or immediacy in favour of noise or the need to show off. A wonderful listen from start to finish, it goes heartily recommended.
http://www.sennen.org.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/sennenwidows
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