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Non-Prog CD Reviews

Seneko

Soul Numbers

Review by Gary Hill

There is a real timeless quality here. This feels very much like it could have been released in the 1970s. The styles contained here range from country based to mainstream rock, soulful sounds and more. I'd say that if I had to pick one artist for comparison it would probably be Lou Reed, but this varies enough to make that only so accurate. However you label this, it's effective.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) in Music Street Journal: 2019  Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2019.
Track by Track Review
Callin' of the Cause
A cool piano laden arrangement opens this, feeling like a 1970s mainstream rock arrangement. The vocals come in bringing a country edge and something a bit like Warren Zevon. The female backing vocals lend some style. So does the slide guitar. The drop back section that is almost acapella is a nice touch. I love the piano work as it comes out of there, and we get a cool little guitar solo, too.
Jenny's with Irene

I love the classic soulful meets alternative rock vibe of this number. It has a timeless quality. The vocals have a tasteful sneer to them, at times making me think of Elvis Costello just a bit.

Lost on Me
This lands more fully in mainstream rock. It has a bit of a Lou Reed vibe in some ways. It feels like something that would have been at home in the 1970s. The chorus is particularly accessible.
One Hot Shot
Starting with the bass, the vocal comes in tentatively and echoey over the top of that. This has a real artsy vibe to it as it works outward. It is another that makes me think of Lou Reed. It's well past the thirty-second mark before the sound fills out with the addition of more instruments and voices. Then we're back into a similar zone as the last song. This is solid, but it's not one of my favorites of the set.
The Devil You Don't Know
This starts with the female backing vocals, essentially delivering the lead at the start. This cut has a lot of soulful texture to it. It also has a healthy helping of country music in the mix. This seems the most closely related to the opener of anything here, That makes it a nice bookend for the set. This is also one of the coolest cuts here. It's also an effective parting shot.
  
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