Sennen – Age of Denial

Listening to a Sennen album is a bit like discovering an item of clothing in your wardrobe that you used to wear a lot in the early 1990’s. Sure, you don’t mind throwing it on to sit around the house, but you wouldn’t particularly want to be seen out in public in it. There is something “out of context” about them, like Marty McFly’s puffer vest in a 1950’s diner, or discovering that you can still buy Loaded magazine.They firmly belong to a bygone age, with track 'A Little High' undulating like a forgotten Ride b-side, 'SOS' The Family Cat with far less interesting vocals. It’s Ok, but all it really makes you want to do is drag out your record collection and actually listen to Ride b-sides and Family Cat albums.Title track 'Age of Denial' is a good case in point, chipping in with a feedback and acoustic combo marching along to deadened drums, rising and falling with a gloopy, thick production. There is a distinct lack of clarity to the music, which sometimes gets lost with a thickness like treacle, a soupy clag of noise sticking to your speakers.There is some good stuff here, in particular the final three songs, 'Sennen’s Day Out' leading the way with a subtle instrumental. 'Broken Promise' builds to a meaty crescendo before the jaunty 'Out of Our Depth'. Tracks like 'Sleep Heavy Tonight' though are just tedious at times, it’s elongated ending slow and drawn out. Its also all very similar to their last album, Where The Lights Get In, showing that this band is obviously more than happy to stay stuck firmly in a 20 year timewarp.