Senses - Little Pictures Without Sound

Coventry’s Senses have released their debut album ‘Little Pictures Without Sound’ via 42s Records. It was written by the whole band and recorded at Magic Garden Studio in Wolverhampton and produced by Gavin Monaghan (MOSES / The Twang / The Blinders).

Image & artwork courtesy of 42s Records.

Where many fail to blend their identity with their heroes Senses succeed with grace and ease. At several turns ‘Little Pictures Without Sound’ pushes the boundaries of what we know about BRMC, The Music, and New Order.

‘With Us / Against Us’ is a revolving door of Bernard Summer beauty and the beguiling leather-clad US rockers. Delicate Mary Chain riffs unite with frontman Brian Callan’s Barney-esque vocals. It is, however, his ability to strive, to reach beyond the usual that reels you in. Callan’s sense of exploration is blessed with defiance that few wouldn’t stand alongside to defend.

Former single ‘Harder Now (For Love)’ throbs with BRMC’s leather-clad rebel status. Brian Callan and Kevin Kavanagh’s brooding guitars are awash with great juxtaposition. There’s a Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre lo-fi quality chiming with the directness of Oasis’ ‘Heathen Chemistry’ and ‘Don’t Believe The Truth’ era. When they combine with Callan’s lead and Ian Finnegan’s backing vocal, they create a wall of sound worthy of Soundtracks Of Our Lives peak.

‘It Comes From Within’ and opener ‘Drifting’ however, turns to the recently reformed Leeds icons The Music. The howling guitars tap into the emotive power of ‘The Walls Get Smaller’ and the dramatic build of ‘Too High’. Meanwhile, Callan looks to his Coventry pal Reid Currie (The Institutes) for an ethereal vocal delivery from the heavens. As the tension builds a now-or-never narrative emerges through the guitar solo like a well-executed dramatic montage. ‘Drifting’ is a far more welcoming embrace with its shimmering guitars, ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ meets ‘Fight The Feeling’ production, and Ian Finnegan’s euphoric stomp on drums. Callan and Kevin Kannagh’s guitars impose themselves with the cinematic brilliance of Adam Nutter and fragile beauty of DMAs to create one of the finest album openers of the century.

On ‘Let Me In’ and ‘All Things Happen For A Reason’, Senses search for yet more meaningful connections with atmospheric down-tempo. The former lacks a point difference that makes the rest of the album so great. Whereas ‘All Things Happen For A Reason’ begins humbly low-key celestial guitars and before breaking free of its chains to become a bombastic Kasabian meets Soundtracks of our Lives number!

‘Little Pictures Without Sound’ is an album by dreamers for dreamers. Even in its most lo-fi moments it’s touched by the hands of fantasy. It breeds a vision of a better life at every turn.  

Senses – Harder Now (For Love)

Coventry’s Senses have followed in the footsteps of The Institutes by signing to the impeccable 42s Records. Last week they released their ‘Harder Now (For Love)’ which was produced by the legendary Gavin Monaghan (Fitzroy Holt / MOSES / Lyerr) at Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton.

Image & artwork courtesy of 42s Records.

On the surface, ‘Harder Now’ seems a straight-up rock ‘n’ roll number. Scratch beneath the surface and an array of influences and juxtapositions emerge. Brian Callan and Kevin Kavanagh’s brooding guitars are awash with great juxtaposition. There’s a Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre lo-fi quality chiming with the directness of Oasis’ ‘Heathen Chemistry’ and ‘Don’t Believe The Truth’ era. When they combine with Callan’s lead and Ian Finnegan’s backing vocal, they create a wall of sound worthy of Soundtracks Of Our Lives peak.

Callan’s vocal takes Jonathan Richman’s drawl for a joyride with the sprawling psyche of Revolver’s Mat Flint and the punky-pop snarl of Senseless Things’ Mark Keds. Callan has an innate talent to glide toward spoken without fully landing there. It serves their lo-fi rock ‘n’ roll and punk instincts well by elevating the song’s drama during the glorious vocal hook of the chorus and the scintillating guitar parts in the closing stages.

‘Harder Now (For Love)’ will be the first of three singles via 42s Records in March and April. Click the image below for tickets to their album launch gig: