By Adam Schutz
Chamber pop is such a saturated genre that few bands are able to stick out among the crowd. Although San Fermin’s self-titled LP received little recognition back in September, it’s only a matter of time before the band establishes themselves as prominent members of the chamber pop scene.
San Fermin was conceived by Brooklyn based songwriter Ellis Ludwig-Leone – though the title ” composer” is a better fit for the 24-year-old, classically trained musician. The band’s debut LP is a concept album composed by Ellis following the love story between a male and female character and their anxieties concerning life. Ludwig-Leone isn’t a frontman himself and the album’s beauty and success is due equally to the intricate composition as the cast of musicians performing.
The male character is performed by Allen Tate, a longtime friend of Ludwig-Leone’s. Obvious comparisons to Bill Callahan and Tom Berninger aside, Tate’s deep, broken vocals cast a shadow of uncertainty and frailty through out the album. His vocals are proven immediately on the opening track Renaissance! displaying his versatility as a singer by his ability to express vulnerability whether accompanied by a choir, orchestra, full band or simple piano.
Performing on behalf of the female character is Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of the band Lucius. Often singing in unison rather than harmonies, the duo’s soulful double tracking flaunts confidence in the male character’s face that could also be mistaken for his own inner voice. One of the first lines from Crueler Kind sang by Wolfe and Laessig is “your mellow dramas are embarrassing”, immediately pointing out Ellis’ own insecurities.
The band released the amazingly catchy Sonsick earlier in the summer, however this is hardly an album of singles. While songs like Sonsick and Crueler Kind might have the hooks of a radio single, it’s often the slower ballads such as Oh, Darling and Methuselah that punch the hardest. Easily gliding between genres, Ellis has proven his ability to write both pop and folk hits into one seamless narrative. Whether this album gains the recognition it deserves, San Fermin has proven themselves as a band with a lot to promise.
Score: 4.2/5
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