Enter Alone review in Rhythm and Booze by Will Munn
Guesswork consist of Bronwen Harrison (Songwriting, Vocals, Keyboards and Acoustic Guitar) and Peter Stothart (Guitars, production, moods and composition). The duo met up purely by accident but from that chance encounter the twosome have joined together to create an intoxicating and magical album that's hard to categorise, due to the band's multiple influences and far reaching song textures.
The opening track on the album, ‘Gathering Dust’, set's the mood wonderfully with subtle bubbling electronics, acoustic and occasional electric guitars, pattered rhythms and beautiful heartfelt vocal harmonies that brings to mind the likes of Tori Amos among others. It's a heady and bewitching sound that draws the listener further into the world of Guesswork.
‘Dirty Weather’ follows and is even better, it's stunning and sparse, almost an ambient track, that features lightly brushed drums/cymbals, subtle synth, finger picked acoustic guitar and Bronwen's mesmerising rich vocals. It's a gentle, lulling track that's almost dreamlike in delivery, Bronwen's voice has an almost other worldly ethereal feel over such hushed, delicate instrumentation.
Elsewhere the band showcase both their many infleunces and impressive arrangement abilities by crossing genres effortlessly. ‘Light’ starts as an acoustic plucked instrumental before developing into a definite latin tinged song, complete with wonderous pattered percussion and delightfully uplifiting vocals. ‘Deaf Dumb And Blind’ is a harmony enriched beat driven pop track with gorgeous heartfelt vocals, whilst ‘In A Moment’ is a sensational ballad with a stunning emotion filled vocal from Bronwen and delightful tinkered instrumentation throughout. The final track ‘Heaven And Hell’ brings together hard rock guitars, gospel and choral vocals to create an indescribable mix that sums the imagination and originality of the band in fine style.
Each and every track here offers up something new and different, whilst each song is instantly likeable, the more you listen to the album the more is revealed and you begin to hear new subtle textures that you may have missed first time around.
‘Enter Alone’ is a stunning and rewarding album that demands your undivided attention, Guesswork's combination of pretty melodies, inspired instrumentation and breathtaking vocals are a joy to behold.
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