Sister Species – Lena In The Bog Review

What does Sister Species sound like?

Country porch folk rock infused with some jaunty ska.

The review of ‘Lena In The Bog’ by Sister Species

Four albums in, and Sister Species remains a unique straddle of different genres, creating music that doesn’t fit nicely into any category. They are a septet that brand themselves as chamber pop, as many of the songs start off being written with the accordion in mind. There are elements of chamber pop, but the guitars are often more rustic and folksy, as if everyone has gone to a barn dance. Then we have the big brass influence. Three of the band play trumpet, and this lends itself to some lovely brass arrangements and infusions of ska-adjacent melodies. Sister Species is a real melting pot, and with their latest album ‘Lena In The Bog’, we get a bright and optimistic album of emerging from murky waters.

The title track is a start/stop ska rock explosion. It sets the tone for a curiously warm rock album. Comforting and uplifting, much like a homemade meal Granny used to make. There is something vintage about it, and I think the accordion and trumpets sell that vibe. ‘Take Everything and Scatter It’ is more country front porch rock with some jaunty organs and smooth brass. The lyrics sing of letting an insect trapped in Amber be freed if it wants to be. The theme of comfortable trappings is revisited across the album, and it’s interesting that sonically this takes familiar roots rock and switches things up, too.

The midtempo stumble swing of ‘Endless Sea’ absolutely shines in its second half. The instrumentation cascades into a rainy mist of notes and cymbal brushes in a satisfying conclusion. Sister Species are particularly good at writing strong closing arcs to their tracks. The catchy 2-minute summer anthem “If I Had To Guess’ moves from nippy and jaunty rock through to an uplifting fanfare of brass and guitars for its finale. It feels both unexpected and a natural evolution of the track.

After the meditative slow burn of ‘Turning Times’, which makes great use of Emily’s clean and unassuming vocals, we get the track that first turned me onto Sister Species. ‘Cover Me In Maple Leaves’ still has the most interesting and slinky chorus on the album. When the chorus hits, it hits in a sultry and devious way, whereas the rest of the song is much more of a jolly ska jam. It is infectious and still stands out on the album as a highlight. Another highlight is ‘Smoke On The Horizon’ with its bluesy undertones and extended clarinet solo. Bayou rock with a side of ranch dressing? Oh, go on then! What both of these tracks do well is present a whateverness that you often get in Americana rock music, but Sister Species applies it to a chamber rock setting. Emily’s vocals are crucial in delivering this, evoking a Laura Veirs and Lauren Hoffman briskness in delivery.

Sister Species aren’t afraid to nudge into jazzier waters, either. ‘Look At The Clouds’ sings of a dreamy day out in nature with smooth, intricate and expressive electric guitar living its best lounge bar life. When paired with the piano and clarinet ballad ‘Ambiguously Bright’, the two complement each other as the wholesome and whimsical part of the album. The album concludes with the affirming and uplifting lighter sway anthem of ‘Someday You’ll Find It’. The song is about wishing peace to those whom you might not want or get to have in your life anymore, and the rising bloom of the outro is the stuff of set-closing crowd chants.

Whilst it may take a while to sonically place a three-piece trumpet section into a rock band, once it clicks, it works. Add to that the comforting, sympathetic nature of these songs, and the direct delivery of them, and Sister Species presents a tightly woven album that provides wind at your back for moving on up in life. If you like some brass with your folk and rock music, this album is for you.

Recommended track: Cover Me In Maple Leaves

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