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A Fine Frenzy - One Cell in the Sea

Rating

RIYL

Regina Spektor
Kelly Clarkson
Imogen Heap
Fiona Apple

Tracklist

1. Come On, Come Out
2. The Minnow & The Trout
3. Whisper
4. You Picked Me
5. Rangers
6. Almost Lover
7. Think of You
8. Ashes and Wine
9. Liar, Liar
10. Last of Days
11. Lifesize
12. Near To You
13. Hope for the Hopeless
14. Borrowed Time

Just how much does reading a band bio’ affect your thoughts on their music? Although sometimes a faux-ami, an explanation of the artist’s upbringing and influences can really shape your thoughts on their music in a highly positive fashion. Such is the case with LA-based songstress A Fine Frenzy. A dip into Alison Sudol’s pool of inspiration sheds a lot of light on the music she makes. A listen to One Cell in the Sea in its entirety, which at first brush is a little too rich to digest, makes so much more sense when you see where the 22 year old is coming from. The track “The Minnow & The Trout”, a sort of parable for seeing past differences and just getting along regardless of circumstance, seen through the eyes of various animals, “Please, I know that we’re different / But we were one cell in the sea in the beginning” and the various other tracks that offer their messages through similar lyrical devices clearly show Sudol’s interest in the literature of Lewis Carroll and CS Lewis.

It also doesn’t hurt that Sudol commands quite an impressive range, vocally. Whilst her musicianship and lyrics share more with the likes of Regina Spektor and Fiona Apple, her vocals are often more reminiscent of Kelly Clarkson and other modern female vocalists with more of a soul edge. This combination of intricate, atmospheric arrangements and soulful vocals is a product of Sudol’s love for both classic soul music, and the melancholic atmospherics of bands such as Sigur Ros and Aqualung.

Her combination of influences may be commendable, but does it work as a whole? Well, where the majority of artists would be content with just one of the styles offered here, Sudol takes on the formidable task of making quaint, melancholic folk balladry palatable for a mainstream audience, in a way that Regina Spektor and others never quite managed. And while it may not be mindblowing to the more clued-up listener, One Cell in the Sea does strike a wonderful balance between the two markets.

This is a gentle, comforting album with moments of pure beauty. A little too lengthy for daytime listening, so my advice is to listen to it at night, with headphones, as you lose yourself within it.

--Alex Davies

Author

HEARTandSYNAPSE

Last updated: 09/29/2009 08:59PM