Drifter94 by Senso

Video for 'Fading':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTP_lc1LRIA

Senso, fronted by Danish singer Jens Konrad, is an avant-pop maelstrom of dark emotion and satirical humour. Combining earworm melody jacked fresh from 1985, tracked alongside elements from grandiose rock, trap bombast, kawaii breakbeats and contemporary electronics. Utterly unique, think Tears for Fears fronting a new sad boi vibe all too concerned with the current socio-political jigsaw puzzle. Nobody wants to rule the world.

Senso’s crew is composed of a who’s that of the ever mutating Danish scene. Singer Jens Konrad is 50% of Lyra Valenza, and owner of the Danish electronic label Petrola 80. The EP is produced together with Danish producer Frederik Møller, and the band includes Albert Hertz from theatrical rock ensemble Josiah Konder, Mads Uldum of kraut-rock band Lød and Sofie Westh from post-punk group Deadpan.

Each track of “Drifter94’” approaches modern pop from its own angle and with its own amalgamated approach of lyric and music. Opener “Fading” is an urban ghost-story of disappearance amidst the psychic, audial and social pollution of now. Lead by electric piano stabbing against a hair blown back drop of glimmering electric guitars and cavernous reverberance. A perfect set up of spaciousness for ‘Always on my iPhone’ to rush into with its pernicious breakbeat science and high speed anthem of a track about the “white cable by the bedside”. Ironically praising and defying the tracking devices we live with 24/7.

The B-side of the record unfurls itself with luxuriant dubiness of “Run”. The stadium rock aesthetics pushed right up against pristine trap production and a velveteen gothic edge. Jens Konrad exclaiming “I don’t want to run anymore… I ain't got no strategy”. The apathy unbalanced by a growing mirage of distant guitar soloing smothering the triplet hats in submission. Closing track ‘Remedy’ takes from all the previous pieces, lending also from the complexity found in Lyra Valenzas work. It’s sky-reaching arrangements bring to mind the great skill Talk Talk’s Mark Hollis possessed to make such small, sometimes fleeting moments expand into universes of their own. More presently electronic sounding than the remainder of the EP, ‘Remedy’ offers some light at the end of an EP which is constantly toying with the dynamics of emotion and audio.

“Drifter94” will be out May 14th digitally through Petrola 80 and on cassette tape via British label Opal Tapes.

Tracklist

1.	Fading	4:14

2.	Always On My iPhone	2:43

3.	Run	4:37

4.	Remedy	4:18

Credits

released May 14, 2021

Vocals, lyrics, production: Jens Konrad
Production: Frederik Møller
Mastering: Joel Krozer @ Six Bit Deep
Cover painting: Sebastian Ploug Christensen
Type font: Laurits Hanak

License