Serena Maneesh - Sapphire Eyes (Playlouder)
4/5
By: Chris Pratt
This second single release to promote Serena Maneesh's eponymous debut album is conclusive proof that these Norwegians are making some of the best whacked-out pop music around right now, effortlessly spilling esoteric streams of sugar-sweet melody over a thumping backbeat whilst all manner of static disturbances and machine noises attempt to upset the balance. Equally in thrall to Kevin Shields and Keith Richards, Serena Maneesh fluently emanates that icy experimentalism that only Scandinavians seem to be able to pull off convincingly.
This is actually a remixed version of the album track courtesy of Brendan Lynch - a key Primal Scream collaborator circa 'XTRMNTR' (i.e. good) - and at times Serena Maneesh's juxtaposition of retro guitar work and forward-thinking production recalls a time when Bobby Gillespie and co. were much more than a heroin-chic Stones covers band.
The B-sides consist of two further 'Sapphire Eyes' remixes plus Lynch's 'alternative edit' (which, oddly, is practically identical to his original) and although it's a great song, four different versions in succession smacks somewhat of overkill. Not that the remixes are bad: Tony Doogan (sometime Mogwai producer) sensibly brings the irresistible vocal line to the forefront over muffled throbs and discordant electronics whilst Riton's equally serviceable edit focuses on the bass line, placing it on almost Madchester-esque breakbeats then thankfully hacking it up with some schizophrenic cross-fader action and growling synth-noise.
For those who (sensibly) already own the album there's nothing essential here, but as an introduction to yet another Scandinavian band making a gloriously individual racket, this shouldn't be ignored.
Artists in this article: Serena Maneesh
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