- @TwoDaff
Little Pictures Without Sound - SENSES
By Daffs aka @TwoDaff
SENSES formed whilst at school in Coventry, bonding over a love of diverse, underground music. influenced by shoegaze romanticism, alternative experimentation, and indie ambition, they have been making music and gigging around the UK since. A certain chemistry was apparent from the outset, and they have remained a solid unit despite now being located in Coventry, London and Germany. The band consists of Brian Callan (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Kevin Kavanagh (Guitar), Rónán O’Connor (Bass) and Ian Finnegan (Drums, Keyboards, Backing Vocals) and signed to 42’s Records last month.
After a string of single releases such as ‘Harder Now (For Love)', ‘Drop your Arms’ and ‘We’re not Wanted’ They have just released their debut album ‘Little Pictures Without Sound’ on 21st April. Its is available on all formats including a beautiful blue marbled vinyl edition (Arrived today I hasten to add) All available from 42's Records.
Recorded at Magic Garden studios and produced by Gavin Monaghan its is already a firm contender for album of the year in my opinion…why?...Read on.
A glorious chiming intro awakens the soul
'Drifting' opens the album and what a start, a glorious chiming intro awakens the soul, its vibrant yet the vocal adds a certain melancholy. Guitars shimmer and scintillate adding a sparkle to the melodic bass line. Synths intertwine and add colour. A great start that leaves you wanting to explore further.
'Drop Your Arms' ups the pace, an instant hit of pounding drums, and blistering guitars that’s all I will say as you can read the full review HERE.
The intro is a gift that keeps giving
Up next, we have 'We’re not Wanted’ opening with a catchy lead riff before the thumping drum beats kicks in and builds, creating a base for yet another melodic bass line. The intro is a gift that keeps giving, it builds in intensity, drums and bass become more frenetic and all the while the initial lead riff continues, entwined within the groove. It’s a great sound and powerful intro. The vocal is powerful, by the time the chorus hits you, you are sold, its anthemic. Full of melodies and catchy, a bit of an earworm in my book. With great lyrics, great harmonies and backing vocals, its one of the stand out tracks for me.
A beautiful guitar shimmers and swirls
'Little Pictures without Sound' opens with gentle waves breaking on the shore while a distant gull cries out, reminiscent of a hazy summer’s day, another soul cleanser. A beautiful guitar shimmers and swirls, backed with synths creating a deep almost brooding feeling. Hugely atmospheric and full of complexities, it’s got an underlying resonance. An emotionally charged vocal packs a punch, cutting through the mix to deliver lyrics that are heartfelt. It’s a beautiful song.
It's moody, multi layered and filled with emotion.
Following on from this we have ‘It comes from Within’ I get a hint of a charlatans vibe with this (my opinion). The vocal really stands out for me, punching above the instrumental. There is a thumping drum pattern that creates the necessary backdrop for the guitars to take control, sparkling lead riffs bubble away underneath before the track leaps in intensity and vibrancy, it's moody, multi layered and filled with emotion.
A crescendo of guitars create a wall of sound
“There’s a 98% chance that human beings are going to blow themselves up…” opens the next track ‘With us/Against us’ and despite this stark warning, the track kicks in with an upbeat melody and rhythm, again there is an atmospheric tone to the verse before a crescendo of guitars create a wall of sound for the chorus. A chest thumping barrage of drums lead us into a mid-section that is guitar driven rock. Hair raising stuff. This track really bangs, shifting from chiming melodies to rock driven riffs.
Swirling shimmering synths provide a backdrop
‘Let me In' follows on from the previously released ‘Harder Now (for love)’ and takes the edge off, swirling shimmering synths provide a backdrop for a rich and vibrant acoustic to set the scene. When the vocal starts, you drift away, its fantastic, highly emotional, backed with harmonies, it hits hard and leaves the proverbial lump in the throat. This track builds in intensity, the richness and the depth in the instrumental blends perfectly with the heartfelt vocal, another stand out track for me.
Pure indie swagger
'All Things Happen for a Reason' is the penultimate track, as the intro begins, I’m instantly taken back to the heady days of the early90’s Britpop/baggy scene, with chiming guitars, sold beats and a rhythm that has you nodding in approval. What more can you ask for. A deep resonating bass holds the vibe and again the vocal shines "All I wanted from the start is a reason…" Pure indie swagger this, vibrant, packed full of melodic, glistening riffs interlaced with broken beats. The track builds to a crescendo of guitars. Glorious.
Emotive to the core
'A Truly Beautiful Disaster' closes the album and what an ending, emotive to the core, the feeling portrayed in this track will resonate with many. For me this track is powerful, full of feeling, passion and well is just sublime, you need to hear this for yourselves.
SENSES have without doubt created a monster with is album. It’s the band baring their all, their heart, their soul and above all showing us what they are made of. It’s been a long time coming but I can safely say it’s been worth the wait. It is for me one of the best albums I have heard in while. Its accomplished, it covers all emotions and this is highlighted not only in the vocals and lyrical content but also in the instrumentals. Its anthemic, yet there is a melancholy in there, there’s a sadness yet there is an upbeat vibrancy.
You get the indie vibes from yesteryear blended with the modern day, yet it crosses many genres, from harder hitting rock, to the moody indie swagger to upbeat, catchy indie pop. Its an album that has a bit of everything and encapsulates the mood of the people in my book. Highly impressive, I can’t fault a single track, every one has its merits. It goes from the sublime to well…just sublime. Glorious!
You can find out more here and purchase this fantastic album