Saint Senara – Dark Waters EP
Available from Friday 27 June
We’ve been teased and tempted, drip-fed the songs of this EP over what feels like millennia. Of course, it hasn’t been that long—perhaps it’s just the anticipation. As with all good things, it’s been worth the wait.
The clue is in the title: Dark Waters. Saint Senara are like creatures of the night, drifting through steamy swamps like will-o’-the-wisps. Nowhere is this more evident than in the opening track, There’s a Storm Coming—thundering in with a thumping, malevolent beat, gritty guitar, and the deceptively hypnotic harmonies that drag you ever deeper into the darkness.
Now you’re hooked. Like a vampire on a stake, you’re thrown what appears to be a lifeline. Chloe and Andrew’s harmonies caress you through the comforting tale of Ophelia—but beware. There’s a sting in the tail, as Ophelia lies deep under the water, with flowers woven into her hair.
The mournful lament of Ophelia is just a moment of respite, softening you up for the return of the foot-stomping beat and fierce, roaming guitar. Lost Lisa Marie unravels another watery death, with a siren dragging her murderer into a cold, grey grave.
The fifth element is a reimagined version of where we began—There’s a Storm Coming. You might ask why restructure such a powerful song. It’s like spraying over the crazed glaze of a Ming vase. Well… perhaps not. I’m happy with both versions: the same, but different. In fact, it’s a live recording from Schtumm—no studio trickery. Chloe and Andrew shine live, and to prove the point, they’ve included a live version of Ophelia too.
It’s like opening two vintage clarets: both blood red, but from different harvests—distinctive, yet equally delicious. You’ll want to drink them both down.
I urge you all to catch one of their shows. I’ll be at Upton Blues Festival, where they’ll perform on the Meadow Stage on Saturday 19 July. With luck, they might even have some discs available. Yes, I still prefer a good blast on the hi-fi—streaming may be steaming, but it evaporates and thins in the air.
Almost as poetic as Shakespeare’s Ophelia… perhaps not!
Recorded at White Noise Studios in Weston-super-Mare, produced by Lex Raymond, and featuring Chloe Gorman on vocals and Andrew Bate on vocals and Gretsch guitar—they are Saint Senara.
By: Graham Munn