Sirenesque is the 8th studio album from The Bathers. Chris Thomson (Friends Again) and The Bathers released a series of much-loved albums including the “Marina Trilogy”:
- Lagoon Blues (1993)
- Sunpowder (1995)
- Kelvingrove Baby (1997)
Sirenesque feels like a continuation of the rich tapestry of the Marina Records trilogy.
Opening with the solo piano of Chris Thomson on the short instrumental piece, Culzean, which is adorned by birdsong, the title track swiftly sweeps into view with a full band performance. The strings are quite underplayed on the track Sirenesque, with multiple melodic guitar lines taking centre-stage.
Hazel Morrison and Evie Fernad Thomson supplement Chris Thomson’s rich vocals. I always remember a wonderful description by Teddy Jamieson in an interview in Scottish newspaper The Herald, describing Thomson’s vocals as being “…one that sounded like it had been weathered in a cask of alcohol on a Scottish island for 50 years.” I agree!
“Where the sea is blue
Where the sea is green
It captured me with you”
Sirenesque is the longest track on the album, heading towards the 8 minute mark. There are a few songs that only weigh in at a minute or so, and these shorter pieces break the album up and give you time to take in the whole album listening experience, savouring the lyrics and the masterful and sympathetic performances. Sort of like a short film before the main feature.
Late Night Conversations is one such piece, just vocals, piano and a muted orchestral undercurrent, as you head into one of the albums key tracks, the first “single”, Garlands.
Garlands is so evocative. It has a delicious pace delivered by Hazel Morrison on drums and Andrew Cruickshank on double bass.
“I kiss you once
I kiss you twice”
The choral vocals add a real emotional pull to one of The Bathers finest songs, that is surely on a par with If Love Could Last Forever from Kelvingrove Baby as a career highlight.
A Map of Venice is another short palate cleanser, as Locomotion is Easy arrives, with a mournful, earthy guitar performance from Sam Loup and overhanging deep strings and a nagging double bass underpinning the contrasting vocals from Thomson and Hazel Morrison, with her finest vocal contribution to the album.
On the Road to the Isles hits hard, and is an example of the romance and longing conjoured up by evocative sounding locations. The song is short but one of the most moving pieces on Sirenesque.
The Camellia House is timeless. “Just a heartbreak away…” The players on this track provide a lovely, gentle rhythm, as found sounds add to the overall mood. The Bathers always know when to reign in their arrangements, and they seem to view space as having equal importance to individual musicians performances.
Lost Bravado offers up one of my favourite lyrics on Sirenesque, and along with Garlands, is a song that I think Bathers fans will surely take to their hearts.
“Exiled in heartache and so alone
Dancing with a reckless joy
Stranded in her cologne
Stranded in heartache
Yet so far from home”
The pace is slow but gives the song time to breathe as the arrangement eventually reveals its charms, and oh lord, that chorus! By the time the string solos kick in towards the end, I guarantee even the most stone cold of hearts will have warmed up by a few degrees.
Feathers, Books and Lace features the wonderful Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, who add (along with the Scottish Session Orchestra on other tracks) a richness to the arrangements that gives the album a sound and identity apart from other Bathers albums.
“And as the rain fell
I kissed your face”
As we head to the album’s conclusion, Welcome to Bellevue offers a new flavour, with a wide-screen, technicolor taste of Americana. You can almost taste the dust in your mouth as you devour Welcome to Bellevue. Long-time collaborator Callum McNair joins Thomson on guitar, and although there are plenty of twists and turns, the performance matches the mood of the song perfectly. The Bathers do not showboat – every note is perfectly placed.
She Rose Through the Isles closes Sirenesque. Some of the motifs from earlier songs return for the album closer, such as a continuation of the addictive double bass from A Map Of Venice.
The orchestral performances weave in and out of the song, giving the impression of hearing the performance in an intimate concert venue. The soundstage is strong throughout Sirenesque, and although I have pre-ordered a vinyl copy, I am looking forward to hearing this album in hi-resolution on the hi-res streaming service Qobuz. Plus hopefully hearing some of the songs performed live if and when The Bathers are ever able to venture south to London.
Sirenesque is a wonderful album, one of the finest of 2023 and a worthy addition to the band’s rich catalogue.
Sirenesque is released by Last Night From Glasgow on October 14th 2023.
Produced and arranged by Chris Thomson.
Recorded and mixed by Sam Loup.
Mastered by Paul McGeechan.
All songs written by Chris Thomson.
Tracklisting
Culzean
Sirenesque
Late Night Conversations
Garlands
A Map of Venice
Locomotion is Easy
On the Road to the Isles
The Camellia House
Lost Bravado
Feathers, Books and Lace
Welcome to Bellevue
She Rose Through the Isles
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