Menomena - 'Rotten Hell'

There is so much going on in Menomena’s third single, ‘Rotten Hell’ - so many interplaying melodies and instruments - that it’s hard to know where to begin describing it. A strange humming is the introduction to the song, and from that point onwards it is a mesmerising affair. The verses are based on a piano theme, with vocal harmonies contributed by all three members, which create a vast, blissful soundscape. When the odd buzzing sound returns it is an ominous sign of a melodic lift, and the as song joyfully edges its way to a euphoric climax, the instinctive reaction is to reach out and press play again.

Released 25/02/08 on City Slang.