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 Album: One Cell in the Sea
Artist: A Fine Frenzy
Websites: Official Website and MySpace
It"s time to sit up and take notice, because this album is
like noting you will have ever heard before. With an irresistible collection of
rich, emotive ballads, replete with a sound of delicate, personal beauty, One Cell in the Sea is one of the most
accomplished debut albums in recent years.
Showcasing the incomparable talents
of vocalist Alison Sudol, the album is packed with tender, soulful vocal narratives.
Perfection is something of a taboo word when it comes to music, and certainly
not one I pander about lightly, but the conclusion is difficult to avoid here.
If not perfection, this is as close as you are likely to get. From the opening
bars of "Come on, Come out", it is obvious that One Cell in the Sea is an album of outstanding quality. What makes
it truly great, though, is the consistently high standard of the album, and the
hauntingly beautiful vocals. If there is one album you must invest in this
year, this is it. A fine frenzy is, indeed, a wonderful state to be in...
The band, in all its glory, consists of Alison,
Stephen, Daxx, Mark and Hal. Despite the obvious talents of the other band
members, the true appeal of the music lies in Alison’s astonishing
vocal display. At only 22 years of age – having already been labeled a ‘VIP-to-be’
(InStyle Magazine) and ‘the prettiest girl in indie rock’ (Gen Art Pulse) – Alison
displays a vocal maturity and strength well beyond her years.
After moving to
LA at the age of five, Alison immersed herself in classic literature,
establishing herself as a passionate and accomplished author in her own right. The
influence of her literary background is readily apparent, with lyrics and music
used to convey a powerful, personal narrative to the listener.
Alison's creative passion for self-expression is, likewise,
clearly imprinted on the music; a desire for atmospheric, powerful melodies is expounded
on the band’s official website, and this is certainly achieved in One Cell in the Sea. A fusion of piano arrangements
and more contemporary melodies, coupled with a more general simplicity of sound
(as influenced by Philip Glass), help complete the Fine Frenzy sound.
While she may be the prettiest girl to grace the indie rock scene,
but what really matters is her exceptional musical ability. Vocal talent may
be relatively commonplace in today’s music industry, and truly great voices are far
less prevalent. With perfect pitch, and astonishing vocal control and power across
the register, Alison has a voice that could easily make the dictionary
sound like a musical masterpiece. The outstanding arrangement and well-crafted
lyrics, thankfully, ensure the music does not put this theory to the
test.
The voiced emotion is intoxicating, lending a serene, ethereal quality to the band’s sound. While the
beauty of it is obvious from the outset, the depth and power of the
vocals is truly astonishing; the music showcases the diversity of Alison’s
singing, as she seamlessly adapts to deliver eerie, almost unnervingly
evocative melodies.
Picking a standout track from One Cell in the Sea is nigh on impossible, given the consistently
high standard of the music. Instead, and perhaps more appropriately in this
case, ‘favorite’ tracks have been selected. "Ashes and Wine" is a beautifully
arranged piece, highlighting the light and shade of Alison’s voice as she shifts
from the subtle, soft verses to soaring, powerful concluding choruses.
"Come on, Come out" is a track of particular splendor. The
piano and string backing provide perfect accompaniments for the sweet, lulling
vocal delivery. While the music is immediately arresting, the rich layers of
sound mean – like a great book – every new visit will reveal new, unexpected
delights.
"The Minnow & The Trout" and "Rangers" are similarly
exceptional pieces of music, and worthy of special mention.
It is not often that debut albums blow you away; no matter
how polished the albums are, they usually betray a lack of musical experience
and maturity in one way or another. One
Cell in the Sea, however, is a true knock-out, and I can offer it no higher praise
than that.
Whether your bent is towards rock, punk, or even pop, A Fine
Frenzy has
created a sound to intrigue and captivate all comers. Such a compete
and fulfilling musical creation deserves all the praise it will
inevitably receive, as do the immense talents of Alison Sudol.
One Cell in the Sea is music to treasure;
music to surrender to; music to live by. If you are a lover of music, then feed
your appetite and enjoy the many delights offered by A Fine Frenzy’s debut
triumph!
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