Redroom | Evening of Light

Review: Sieben – No Less Than All (2012)

artist: Sieben release: No Less Than All format: CD, LP year of release: 2012 lable: Redroom duration: 47:10

detailed info: discogs.com

As Sieben, Matt Howden has been nothing if not consistent, maintaining his original voice as both a frequent live performer and a studio artist and technician. His violin looping and layering technique and singing voice make him a unique and instantly recognisable artist, even after over fifteen years of work.

The last two studio albums (As They Should Sound excluded, as it concerns reworkings of older tracks) have marked a direction deeper into rock territory, [...read more...]

Review: Sieben – Star Wood Brick Firmament (2010)

artist: Sieben release: Star Wood Brick Firmament format: CD year of release: 2010 label: Redroom duration: 49:42

detailed info: discogs.com

It was a mere matter of time before the rising star of Sieben‘s oeuvre would be crowned by a new full-length album. Last year’s As They Should Sound saw Matt Howden looking to his back catalogue and restyling a selection of songs in a more current mode. Basically, Star Wood Brick Firmament works in that same mode: Howden unaccompanied and without frills, but with a series of brand new tracks.

Opener “Minack Theatre” and the [...read more...]

Review: Sieben – As They Should Sound (2009)

artist: Sieben release: As They Should Sound format: CD year of release: 2009 label: Redroom duration: 41:38

detailed info: discogs.com.

As They Should Sound is, first of all, not the new Sieben album. Rather, it is a cross between an album of re-recordings, and a retrospective compilation, released in a fine digipak with full lyrics and nice photography. As the title suggests, it appears Matt went through his œuvre to pick songs he would like to record anew, as they should sound. In practice, this mostly means a stripped-down [...read more...]