Sans Froid are a Bristol progressive art-rock quartet who release their debut album `Hello, Boil Brain` this month. The band currently comprise of Aisling Rhiannon (vocals/keys), Toby Green (drums/vocals), Charlie Barnes (guitar) and Ben Harris (bass).
The brief `Hello` greets us and introduces us to the album with the word repeated throughout before the fluid `Planket` takes us on a quirky free flowing journey. A number that “represents the understated pleasures of a peaceful night in, favouring the warmth of companionship over the noise of the nightlife,” according to singer Rhiannon, whose delicate vocals add a comforting warmth to the number.
`Gammons` I read hits out at the continuous passive misogyny experienced by women in the UK. It has a jagged beginning and retains an anxious edge throughout its lifespan possibly mirroring its uncomfortable subject matter. There`s a haunting texture at times to `Hardware Bruise` with some captivating piano, vocals and rolling drum rhythms with tender guitar chord riffs joining on route.
`Split In Two` is a fairly spellbinding listen which opens slowly and gently before gaining pace and volume as it begins to race along. It kind of takes a breath midway before resuming a similar path to what was previously followed. Rhiannon has shared that `The Still` “mirrors the narrative of our debut album Hello, Boil Brain, delving into the profound anxiety stemming from emerging out of a world-altering pandemic and the daunting prospect of reintegrating into a frenetic ‘normal’ society. It reflects the realisation that social interaction, once second nature to many, now feels overwhelming, and the rapid pace of life no longer aligns comfortably. The yearning to linger in a state of slow existence amidst the chaos.” It’s a restless kind of erratic composition with sporadic bursts vocally and musically as it evolves possibly reflecting the nervous and fearful societal reintegration.
`What`s That Sound` is relatively dreamy and has a captivating delicacy about it which kind of draws you into its layers and depths. It takes a more rock-tinged quality in the last sixty seconds or so. The album closes out with `Boil Brain` an unnerving uneasy and intense submission to end on which concludes with “Hellos” which takes us full circle and back to the beginning.
`Hello, Boil Brain` was a fascinating listen which left me as confounded at its conclusion as it did at its initiation but feeling all the better for having listened and consumed. I`m sure it`ll be a release that I’ll return and listen to hoping that it may enlighten me further.
Rating 8/10
