Album Review

A Fine Frenzy – One Cell In The Sea

• 13th Feb 2008

Alison Sudol AKA A Fine Frenzy is more than just a pretty face. The wondrous One Cell in the Sea opens with what is, for me at least, the highlight of a superb debut LP. Sudol beautifully delivers a simplistic and effortless vocal throughout each and every emotive track. The depth and maturity of her voice is something to behold, as it’s delicate and somewhat undersized source simply defies explanation. There’s a victorious sense of yearning that echoes Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays, no relation to Caron) and perhaps Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries, and yes, something of a fruit!) without the accent.

As for the predominantly piano & percussion powered musical accompaniment that subtly escalates and sneakily recedes as it goes on its wonderful way, well, it’s suitably excellent too! Yes there’s guitar, orchestration and all the other usual suspects to be heard too, once you get past the voice that is. What does it all add up to? Aside from the track ‘Liar Liar’ which could be mistaken for any Phones4u music, the entire LP is mesmeric.

Fleeting moments that stir varying qualities of Concretes, PJ Harvey, Coldplay, Eva Cassidy, Celebration and even Babybird also feature. So, if that’s not enough to entice, get yourself some new ears my friend, because the ones you got aren’t worth the toffee they’re made of!

Read our little interview from last year here [link] for a slightly closer, more insightful look at A Fine Frenzy. And for fully blown info you can visit her site by clicking here [link].