Sentimental Bones
by Hanna Fearns
For as long as she can remember, Hanna has been making music. Her peculiar mix of Americana and Indierock is a declaration of love to the soundtrack of her
life.
After several band projects, Hanna Fearns’ solo-debut Sentimental Bones is now released by Bremen-based label Songs and Whispers: a union of Alternative Country and classical Singer-Songwriter-Folk into a genre Hanna herself describes as “Sofa Country”. Trifling her music into the “any old Country-drawer” would be a hasty mistake: A soupcon of Tex-Mex and Jazz, rhythms evoking Bossa Nova, Pop and even Reggae show her unreserved and yet respectful way of interpreting the Nashville legacy. Her songs don’t force themselves on you, but if you pay attention, you run the risk of being captured, whether on a cozy couch at home, or at the counter of a dirty bar in the Sonoran desert.
Sentimental Bones is not only the skillful dissection of feelings, but also a musical road trip into rough landscapes, ruled by melancholy („You stole my crown“, „Die alone“, „9mm“), or pissed off grievousness („I spit into our face“,„Wasteland”), yet also comforting warmth and promising rays of light („Dream of Me“,„Slaves of opportunity”).
These are love songs about failure, loss and disappointment, but where the pain hits hard begins quest for autonomy, the desire to strike off fetters of dependencies and repurpose the pain. This fierce and emancipator aspect is also mirrored in Hanna’s warm and clear voice: Even in the most intimate and tender moments she is never tempted to slip into girlish coquetry, but instead remains accessible and authentic – to the bones.
Sentimental Bones was produced by Hubl Greiner, former head of the internationally-renowned German Avantgarde-Rock band The Blech. A 14-member band, an idiosyncratic instrumentation including hammer dulcimer, euphonium, tres and bansuri provide for the unmistakable sound leading through “Sentimental Bones”.
After several band projects, Hanna Fearns’ solo-debut Sentimental Bones is now released by Bremen-based label Songs and Whispers: a union of Alternative Country and classical Singer-Songwriter-Folk into a genre Hanna herself describes as “Sofa Country”. Trifling her music into the “any old Country-drawer” would be a hasty mistake: A soupcon of Tex-Mex and Jazz, rhythms evoking Bossa Nova, Pop and even Reggae show her unreserved and yet respectful way of interpreting the Nashville legacy. Her songs don’t force themselves on you, but if you pay attention, you run the risk of being captured, whether on a cozy couch at home, or at the counter of a dirty bar in the Sonoran desert.
Sentimental Bones is not only the skillful dissection of feelings, but also a musical road trip into rough landscapes, ruled by melancholy („You stole my crown“, „Die alone“, „9mm“), or pissed off grievousness („I spit into our face“,„Wasteland”), yet also comforting warmth and promising rays of light („Dream of Me“,„Slaves of opportunity”).
These are love songs about failure, loss and disappointment, but where the pain hits hard begins quest for autonomy, the desire to strike off fetters of dependencies and repurpose the pain. This fierce and emancipator aspect is also mirrored in Hanna’s warm and clear voice: Even in the most intimate and tender moments she is never tempted to slip into girlish coquetry, but instead remains accessible and authentic – to the bones.
Sentimental Bones was produced by Hubl Greiner, former head of the internationally-renowned German Avantgarde-Rock band The Blech. A 14-member band, an idiosyncratic instrumentation including hammer dulcimer, euphonium, tres and bansuri provide for the unmistakable sound leading through “Sentimental Bones”.
released June 6, 2014