Artist description Discover A Mirror is a self-released album -- but far from being another faceless slab of lo-fi indie rock, it's a riveting journey into the singular power of music. Yes, it leans more towards the adult contemporary charts than CMJ's top twenty, but any listener who cares more about music than image will be spellbound by this journey. Besides, SEN are obscure enough to score instant indie cred -- they're a quiet and mysterious band from Vienna, Austria (only a few international borders and a stretch of very cold water away from Sigur Rós), and if you can find any pertinent information on their web site, you're one up on me. Most indie releases stray from more mainstream desires for vocal clarity, but it's hard to ignore the base power that can be conveyed in a beautiful, soaring voice. This is SEN's focal point -- an undeniable grace and sincerity contained within a unique combination of smooth jazz stylings, melancholy lyrics and powerfully raw vocals. Manuel Zeiter has a touch of Bauahusian grandeur and theatrical inflection in his voice that perfectly compliments the raw beauty of Kerstin Steiner's folksy vocals. The harmony they create will stop you in your tracks; you'll ponder the meaning of slightly obscure lyrics such as "Pick me up / so let me find / I can walk on the ground / I need a second to think" ("Breath On The Wave"). "Discover A Mirror"'s take on power-pop is elevated with a jazz-flavored sax and a hint of flamenco beats, bolstering the vocals' rich sentiment while never overstating their presence. You'll detect some fairly obvious Rusted Root-style eclecticism in the music, although it leans more toward a consistent Celtic feel than a broader world beat sound. It's hard to go wrong with Irish accents, and SEN haven't messed them up; the earthiness accentuates the folk elements that underpin these glossy pop stylings. This musical and emotional diversity carries Discover A Mirror, even when it leans dangerously close to overproduced commercial gloss. SEN create a perfect balance of confident production and DIY unpredictability -- the best of indie-rock and more commercial material. The musicianship is first rate, the lyrics are moving and well written, and the vocals are full of richly emotive beauty and power. Vocals this good are a killer hook, whether the album in question is pressed up in million-copy batches or duplicated one at a time on a bedroom CDR drive. If you don't believe me, just listen. -- Ryan Smith

Music Style substantial-pop

Musical Influences Dave Matthews Band, Ben Harper, K´s Choice, Tool, Bush, Pearl Jam

Artist History Founded in 1996, Sen has a new EP. We worked hard to create a sound with innovation.

Group Members Zeitler Manuel: Vocals Pauleschitz Hannes: Guitars Mayer Philipp: Drums Reiter Markus: Bass Steiner Kerstin: Vocals Pairits Harald: Technics

Instruments Saxophone, Piano, Bass, Drums, Guitars, Vox

Albums Leaving these days, Discover a mirror

Press Reviews The Gap 12/98;X-Act 10/98; NOEN 26/98; Rundschau 24/06/98; splendidezine.com 31/05/03

Location Vienna, Vienna - Austria

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).