Sieben - No Less Than All

Everyone observes New Year's eve differently, most go out amongst the rabble to down crap drinks before hazily mingling with their past. Some have the unfortunate honor of working on it and a few remember it coherently. Apart from all of these, yours truly spent it alone with a bottle of fine Malbec and this superb new album from the mighty Sieben. It was a curious thing to work my way through this record as I am much more familiar with Howden's solo works and his mesmerizing collaborative efforts. I've been aware of Sieben for years but have only explored them tentatively; they have changed quite a bit since their debut. For one thing, Matt Howden is the only consistent member and for another, these tracks are among some of the most accessible I've heard from him. You can almost see how they come together because their architecture is so very well designed and appointed. I'd view some of what I heard on here as being downright regal.

In addition to his renowned abilities as a violinist, the arrangements and combinations of melody and tempo focus on a subtle yet elegant aesthetic. His own voice lends itself to what he's written exceedingly well and despite how many others have covered their songs, his version of Joy Division's "Transmission" is worth the price of admission alone. He ruminates upon preachers, life's gnawing demands to adhere to it's conventions, day to day trials, the tribulations which those in power foist upon we who elect them and in short cobbles together a collection of characters you do feel quite moved by. Coming away from this album without having connections being made to your own window on the world is not possible because the intimacy of "No Less Than All" is similar to a loved one whispering tales of deceit, despair and determination into your ear all at the same time.

So while the rain lashed at my windows and the drunken clatter and chatter of revelers passed me by, I unraveled the multitude of layers Sieben proffered on this record and bathed my senses in all the dynamic pithiness these past couple of years have brought to Mr. Howden's quill. Unlocking each song in slow contemplation proved to be the most rewarding method to go with and so by the time the new year had been rung in here in Portland, I'd become quite friendly with 'No Less Than All'. We'd grown to understand each other surprisingly well, despite the differences in our appearance and composition. Our temperament for those waning hours of a dying 2011 had become similar indeed and I found myself wondering why it was that a guy like this to this day remains as little known as he is. For the Sieben fans who are reading this, your wait will be ever so worth it. The swooping strings, the regimented hints of rhythm and shades of melancholy are all awaiting you. A fine state of affairs indeed. Jan 03 2012