Tracks:
- Lilith | MP3
- Shelter for a Lesser God
- Silently There | MP3
- Old Europa
- Pale
- Dusk
- Lighthouse
- Rites of Passage
- Morningrise
- The Soil Stained Black
- Eclipse | MP3
- Song to a Moonlit Mermaid
OVERVIEW:
As its first European signing, the US based label Middle Pillar Presents announces the new full-length album from Aenima. Entitled Sentient, their third release is a stunning production of darkwave, ethereal and gothic rock songs with an epic layering of female siren song harmonies. Aenima's style emerges right from the start with "Lilith," which has already received immense airplay from European and US radio due to its appearance on their previous EP Never Fragile. This newly re-mastered version sets the tone for the album, jangling effected guitars working in tandem with a spirited rhythm section while singer Carmen's lilting vocals caress the melodies of Sentient. The album brings to life the spirit of their live performances, which have been praised in European press. Each song builds on the strengths of the band as the album continues - the eclectic range of the musicians and the dynamics between them display a wide range of emotion and depth throughout the twelve songs of Sentient.
The haunting beauty of "Silently There" shimmers with light jazz drumming and evocative faerie-like vocals chanting hypnotically "here comes the dark... " The bittersweet "Pale" builds from a calm serenity to an epic wave of guitars and drums, eventually blending back down into the beautiful a capella track "Dusk." Carmen's versatile voice shines here, as a beacon before and after the storm. This follows through to "The Lighthouse," where her voice becomes a seductive lure over insistent rhythms and industrial percussion, weaving harmonic temptations throughout the piece. Nature's tranquility is evoked in "Morningrise" while "The Soil Stained Black" sets a sultry mood with its whispered vocals and erotic guitar. The tribal rhythms and vocal invocation of "Eclipse" propel Sentient to a bombastic and frenzied climax until the solemn guitar melody of the instrumental "Song for a Moonlit Mermaid" brings the album to a wistful close.
Sentient is an hour of music that captures the essence of Aenima through its layers of guitars, rhythms and vocal harmonies that enliven and tempt the heart.
A review from chaindlk.org/ Putting the CD in and hearing the opening vocals of ěLilithî, all I can do is simply stand back with my jaw hung open, knowing Iíve seen something that has passed my musical comprehension and imagination. Carmenís vocals are that dream blend of Portuguese folk singing meets ethereal atmosphere. Think of Portuguese folk great Tonicha meets Dru from This Ascension, all over top of very controlled and meticulous guitar lines and drum lines. The drum lines pave on with a patter, like an artist painting in full detail with one bristle on a brush head. And the guitars strum along softly in an never overbearing way, bringing to mind some of Opethís best moments. All of this makes for a very entrancing mix and every song just rolls along like a lullaby, with Carmenís angelic vocals stealing the show. Her vocals are some of the finest ever heard in my life, and all I can think of upon hearing them is that feeling I got hearing the Cocteau Twins for the first time ever. That exact same feeling where all you can do is just stand back and at the end say ěD-A-Y-A-M!î as you hit that repeat button. This girl could sing about folding towels and Iíd sit and listen attentively to it! The atmosphere of the whole CD shifts between a thin gossamer of melancholy and rises up to a skillfully controlled level of joy, not to surpass a certain point to becoming too epic and ruining the flow. Everything about this CD oozes constraint and thoroughness, like they spent days just making sure one note was perfect before moving on to the next. Extremely skilled and powerful work from this new group, a very rare accomplishment even from veterans decades their seniors. This is one of those few bands that is music not for the sake of music, but music that simply transcends music itself! Easily the best CD Iíve heard so far this year, and very well might remain so at the end of the year, unless they put out another one! Rating: 10. - KlingKlangBedlam
PRAISE for AENIMA:
"heavenly gothic style... mainly constructed from the guitar and led through the graceful and captivating vocal parts of Carmen. A touch of mystery in the atmospheres running through the fragile gothic songs." - Side-Line Magazine
"...with a musical whirlwind of all the best things you've loved about many bands from the Cure guitars to Mission styles. Her vocalizations float, and turn, and soar..." -Sentimentalist Magazine
"'Lilith' treats us to Carmen's low range, and to swooping high notes as piercing and beautiful as starlight in winter" - STARVOX
"...immediately establishes the excellence of Carmen's vocals with their controlled operatic tremolo effects and an impressive ability to hit the high notes." -FluxEuropa
"...powerhouse vocals of Carmen, deep intensity to higher ethereal sounds, backed with a brilliant mix of slow and intense beats and some pseudo-classical sounds." - Sorted Magazine