Review

Sienna: Essence

Comparisons with fellow Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto can’t be avoided when listening to Sienna’s fourth album, the keyboards salute his mid 1980’s work with the respect of a devoted fan.

The most welcome thing on the album is the inclusion of ‘real’ musicians alongside samples and sequencing, giving the tracks the human feeling which most electronica/ambient music fails to capture. The veteran sweeping synth pads and reverberating blips all set a specific mood the instant it begins.

As a whole the album is a musical coffee table book, a classy statement about the person who buys it. The listener’s only gripe might be that the tracks are all a little too sparse at times, the addition of some mellow solos would elevate it above similar albums.
Words ADAM IRVING