Serena-Maneesh - Sapphire Eyes (Single)
"Create music as a flow not a structure" is Serena-Maneesh's motto, illustrated throughout their second single release from their self-titled album, "Sapphire Eyes". This single contains the original single version of this catchy, chaotic tune plus a Tony Doogan (Mogwai producer) and Lynchmob (Brendan Lynch) alternative remix/edit and an additional song "Candlelighted" (track four from their self-titled release).
To be honest, I have no idea how to begin describing this crazy single or even genre of music it fits into - the track in question has elements of many varied styles: pop, rock, electro and so on. Then, just when you think you have the song worked out, this beautifully stripped back female voice strikes through with the cutesy lyrics, "You shining through…through the veil of my shame..." This Norwegian 7-piece is mysterious yet gorgeous and you have to wonder about the inspiration behind their music. It definitely sounds edgy and fun in the making and their press pictures indicate Serena-Maneesh’s original and arty style. The single version of Sapphire Eyes is raw but also delicate; the song seems to be lost in a time warp, taking you somewhere which is far from this earth. The first remix seems a little echoey to me, but with a definitive, developing and dance-able beat. It didn’t really stand out too much from the original, and as many times as I heard it, it seemed to just blend into the other songs.
"Candlelighted" I really enjoyed, the electro-type elements really stand out on this track, and by the end of the song, you really begin grooving along with all the samples thrown in to the mix. Although, the early 90's distorted guitar riffs are hard to take seriously at times! This track is void of any lyrics except the odd distorted voices (fragments from Sapphire Eyes) and sound effects. By the time you listen to the final edit, you will probably be sick of this song. This edit doesn't do much to hold your interest either; it is very similar to the original except for a bit of tweaking and added sounds here and there.
Serena-Maneesh has an appealing, interesting and diverse sound overall, but the production on this single does nothing to reflect this at all. I think it is in fact quite poor, the sound levels are low and the vocals deserve to be pushed forward in the mix. They seem a little washed-out sounding on Sapphire Eyes, and Ann Sung-an Lee’s vocals are definitely this group’s strong point. It would be worth checking out Serena’s full-length releases and seeing if this unique style of music could be enjoyable for a longer period of time. It would certainly be a different experience – a starting point for conversation at a party, for that magic hour of midnight.
Sapphire Eyes is worth a listen, it will open your ears to something I guarantee you will have never experienced before...
