Sarah Brendel
Filed Under: Folk, Indie, Rock
NDEL album “BEFORE THE MOUNTAINS” culminates an intensity of language you’re forced to withdraw from or succumb to.The 15 track album was produced by the songwriter herself and her friend Arno Jordan in the backyard-studio of the artist community they and their families have both made their home.
Deserting all masquerades, Sarah presents herself in her most coarse and fascinat...ing incarnation to date. The album reveals facets broadly transcending the limitations of genres, intertwining threads, connecting neo folk and country rhythms, stumbling over the roots of blues, casting a glance through the window of pop, losing herself in sound collages, and uttering a poem every step of the way.
Like Sarah's voice, the instruments on the album sound just as free and unaffected, maybe because not only the vocals but also the drums and guitars were recorded live without overdubs.
The mixture of rough sketches and pure, unembellished beauty truly makes the album rustle. The art-work in book form emphasizes the music in every aspect and every page contains hand-written lyrics with small drawings of photographs and paintings from the Brendel family.
BEFORE THE MOUNTAINS is a voyage of discovery to find a treasure of inexpressible worth.
