Thayer Sarrano “King” (Independent, 2009)

the new queen of shoegaze

For days of quiet misery, when the world is distant and cold, 'King' is the album that will fit right in. Thayer Sarrano's soft, heartfelt and (slightly overly) echoey vocals will evoke the finest of shoegazing memories for Hope Sandoval fans; she also has an edge of trouble and pain that is reminiscent of Mary Margaret O'Hara.

The spookiness she achieves with the lap steel underlies the aura of mystery produced by the repetitions in the lyrics and the sound of her voice. The occasional changes in pace (e.g. towards the end of 'Funeral Parade') are welcome, and it would be good if she had pushed dissonance further. 'Tried' and title track 'King' are ambitious in their tone, timing and balance, and this sort of work marks her out as an exciting talent to watch and listen to. The less demanding 'Nightlife' and 'Saint George' are in turn less attractive. The handmade cd case alone is worth the entry price.

Folky magic.

Date review added:  Sunday, November 08, 2009
Reviewer:  Lynne Pettinger
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Thayer Sarrano MySpace