Serena Maneesh - ‘Drain Cosmetics’ (Playlouder) Released 13/02/06

Starting loud and raw and slightly discordant and oh so slightly Velvet Underground, Gigwise expects a drawling bluesy vocal and we're totally flaberghasted when a gentler voice kicks in and the sound turn all expansive. Swirling guitars are built on and built on with ease and little solo’s and orchestral sounds are thrown in too with a little choir standing somewhere at the back. Ambitious, but we're not too sure what he's blathering on a bout in the lyrics: "Touch my knees to speak again/broken six string ring again". WTF? Still, good stuff.