Compared to some of his recent works, Serenade is more of a collection of miniatures from Sheffield. A single LP of 12 pieces, it is a departure from the 20+ minute works on Don't Ever Let Me Know, or Moments Lost. He leverages this shorter duration effectively, however. Instead of creating monolithic pieces that slowly evolve, he processes and shapes commercial recordings in a multitude of different ways that can differ from song to song, allowing for a wider variety of tones and textures throughout.
Much of Colin Andrew Sheffield's work has been centered on the treatment and manipulation of existing music, sometimes thematically linked, such as jazz on Images, or location-based sounds of Don't Ever Let Me Know, and other times from a variety of sources. Perhaps more so than on his other works, the musical elements shine through here frequently. Never fully revealing their sources, or even genres of origin, Sheffield’s slight lifting of the proverbial blinds is to excellent effect.
"Whirlpool," for example, has a distinct melodic progression that is more obvious than usual, coupled with a looping rhythm that, while abstract, has a more conventional feeling to it. "Premonition" is another example of this, where layered melodic tones drift and expand outward, but coupled with some bits of scraping and grinding, so he never lets things get too placid. "Invocation" features a sequence of swelling and receding layers, and with some ghostly passages, Sheffield does an amazing job at creating a cinematic sense. Crystalline tones define "Night Watch," where again he segues into some loops that further fleshes out an already lush work.
This greater allowance of conventional musicality is perhaps most apparent on the album’s closer, "Testament." Beginning from a bassy stutter, he blends in subtle tones and reverberated crackles, and what sounds almost like untreated violin melodies. On top of the low-end undercurrent, he lets everything get quite melodic and beautiful, while still grounding the piece in abstract textures. For me, it is the peak of the album, and it is the most traditional song-like material I have heard from him.
While prolific, Colin Andrew Sheffield's work never seems to overlap, meaning that each release has its distinct sound and feel, so he never feels as if he is repeating himself. Considering he utilizes similar compositional methods from work to work; this is clearly a testament to his compositional strengths and attention to detail. Fitting its title, Serenade is his most musical work to date, but nowhere is his penchant for abstract textures and tones ignored. While it may be more inviting than some of his discography, he never belies his less conventional roots.
Listen here.
