Sereena Maneesh
Label: Honeymilk
Rated: NONE
Media: CD
Format: Album
WorkNameSort: Sereena Maneesh
Serena Maneesh are neither Indian film stars nor a hybrid yoga position but a Norwegian six-piece obviously enthralled with both The Stooges and all things shoegazing. Their debut recording recalls the walls of slanted guitars and glimmering melodies wrought by Swervedriver and My Bloody Valentine. Though Serena Maneesh is informed by much more than that, the essence of their sound is largely instrumental, with the incomprehensible vocals of frontman Emil Nikolaisen flying over their gorgeous caterwaul-like radio waves buffeting outer space. The chop-a-block beat of ‘Candlelightedâ?� lies low under strobing black-and-blue guitars; ‘Beehiver IIâ?� is pure punk spew warped by Primal Scream bedlam; ‘Her Name Is Suicideâ?� crackles with a death knell rhythm, cooing synth tones and a soothing voice not unlike a female Carl Wilson. Indie cred alert: Sufjan Stevens guests on flute and marimba!
This article appears in May 17-23, 2006.