www.tensheds.com (label)
30 October 2015 (released)
05 December 2015
This is the third album from Tensheds and the man is getting stronger and more confident. The results of touring his ‘Crazy Beautiful’ album for 300 dates (initially booked as 10) show in an album that is loaded with emotion and melody as well as a huge and expansive sound.
Tensheds took to the Leicester Squere Theatre in London to records the album because he wanted to capture the drum sound in an acoustic where the weight and power could be found – successful insofar as the drums sound more natural and powerful than I’ve heard in ages. He also set a rule that if it couldn’t be played on piano he wasn’t including it so the album features manipulation as well as treated and prepared piano. He relented to be able to add harmonica and Glockenspiel (plus drums of course).
The result is approaching awesome. His dark and gruff voice is wonderfully musical and the piano simply beautiful but there are moments that really send shivers down my spine.
The album opens with a delicate piano arpeggio and builds until the drums come in with a heavy thud and his vocals are almost breathed as he sings ‘Shooting Myself’. The emptiness behind the vocals and piano create a huge aural image of a man at the bottom of a depressive well calling out to anyone passing by. Strong and impassioned, the track laves a huge impression to open the album.
‘Framed For Glory’ on the other hand is almost upbeat and his vocals had me in mind of Springsteen at his finest, especially with the piano carrying the rhythm.
‘War’ is an incredible number featuring haunting choir and prepared guitar as the drums knock out a military step. His vocal is desperate but somehow uplifting and I’m shocked that this hasn’t been released as a Xmas single – a hundred more times appropriate than anything else around this season.
I expected to find the lack of a guitar or bass on an Americana album limiting but this is nowhere near the case – they would only add clutter.
It is a really uncomfortable listen but brilliant for all that, one of the most powerful albums of 2015.
