The former attachment to the Glaswegian noise merchants can be heard in tracks such as the squally burst of sound that is Sennen Enjoy Life (whose title may well be a nod to Mogwai Fear Satan)
Sennen – Where The Light Gets In
http://www.konkurrent.nl/ http://www.sennen.org.uk/ http://www.hungryaudio.co.uk/
Sennen are four lads from Norwich who were apparently fully paid up members of the Mogwai appreciation society until they realised that they missed lyrics and tunes. The former attachment to the Glaswegian noise merchants can be heard in tracks such as the squally burst of sound that is Sennen Enjoy Life (whose title may well be a nod to Mogwai Fear Satan) and in the guitar shredding noise on opener Blackout. However these elements are tempered by an openness to melodic composition and by a desire to offer more traditionally structured songs.
The album is split between those songs that rock-out (the afore-mentioned Blackout and Just Wanted to Know) and those that are more melodic, stately and restrained (Here It Is, Your Hand In Mine). For the most part it is the more gentle side of Sennen that is displayed. Everybody’s Loss is indicative. After two and a half minutes of fairly stately progress, the track starts to build. However rather than drawing to a riotous crescendo, the track instead slips back down the gears. Throughout the album use soft, almost ethereal harmonies.
However they do demonstrate that when they want to they can bring the noise. Just Wanted To Know is turbulent and fiery, whilst Fear Home does have the explosive aggression at it’s finale that they deliberately avoid on Everybody’s Loss. There is a confidence here that manages to avoid brash cockiness but that rather underlines the abilities of a band who are able to craft a fine suite of songs that avoids going for the obvious trick at every turn and sounds all the better for it.
Words: Stuart Crosse