Fen-Of losing interest

Ripple
2012

Fen's new album isn't totally what I was expecting from them given their past. This album isn't quite as dark and leans towards more of a hard rock direction than their previous work. However it may be even more dynamic and engaging. Again they plunge into every track with plenty of confidence and ideas. The style still isn't easy to pin down nor are they predictable, but that's quite alright with me. They pull together elements of hard rock, metal, grunge and prog-rock. The best part of this album is that they integrate the above frequently and yet somehow it always works out. I could pick almost any song as a good example of their approach, but I suppose "The Glove" would be a prime example of their skills. At just three and a half minutes it's one of the shorter tracks here, but it feels like a ton of music pushed into that time frame without seeming bloated. I am amazed at the fluid motion in which they lead the various sounds forward without flinching. This approach also made for every song to seem very fresh even after multiple plays. Taking on different styles like this can be an ambitious undertaking, but pulling it off can be tough because you have to have the playing skills and really be comfortable with the styles. Fen do all that and more plus make it look easy and sound spectacular.

Fen-Trails out of gloom

Ripple Music
2010



I have had this disc for several weeks and played it repeatedly. Still it has taken me some time to really put together my thoughts into words to describe this and I'm still not sure that I'll do justice to this release. Vancouver's Fen carve out a mixture of styles with relative ease. The music is mainly progressive rock, but it doesn't end there as they bring in many ideas to the mix and keep the pace and moods changing throughout. They effortlessly create some smooth as silk melodies that will mesmerize your senses and pull you along. Then they grind out heavy, semi-fuzzed out passages with the same amount of passion and skill. It's not just that they are creating moods, but rather that they are guiding them and us. Yet I never question it because all of the above ties together in the end. Perhaps the band's greatest asset is their ability to get so much out of every step they take. Each note, beat and word that Fen create all have a purpose and as a listener you will feel that. There is a very deliberate approach to their music and they take their time in building up each track. It's this approach that allows the band to get the maximum results from everything they do. Very few parts of what they create here are complicated, but it's more the fact that they are great at constructing and building these simple pieces together to make fantastic songs that unfold like masterful stories. Indeed this album is a grower of sorts. I liked it on the first play, but definitely like it more on each play. With each play I discovered more and more reasons to enjoy "Trails out of gloom".

http://www.myspace.com/fenmusicvancouver