REVIEW: Syrens, Firewater (November)
- Bob Gajarsky
There's sometimes a release that flows through the cracks in the reviewing system and gets lost amidst many new releases. Luckily, the Syrens debut album, Firewater (on November Records), avoided falling through those cracks, and in fact is one of the most sincere records of the year.
The Syrens first began their performances in the Paris Metro system in 1988. A duo, combining the singing and guitar playing of Canadian Greta Lauran and vocals/keyboards of American Sarah Symons, the Syrens instantly evoke memories of another successful female duo - the Indigo Girls.
Each song brings into play the folky guitar present in the Indigos releases, along with one vocal splitting off into two complementary voices. Rather than sticking with the trademark, however, Symons' keyboards add another dimension to each track, making your typical folk tune become something special.
In the end, the Syrens have produced an incredibly strong debut album, with no weak tracks from beginning to end. Indigo Girls fans, and even Emily Saliers and Amy Ray themselves, should take a listen to this great disc.
