At the end of last year, we reviewed S J Denney’s EP, The Moods That Follow. Now the Essex-based singer-songwriter returns with his latest release, in the form of The Trouble With Me. It’s another short slice of indie-folk heaven, leaning more on the folk side of things. If you liked Denney’s previous record, you really ought to check out The Trouble With Me – a full stream can be found at the end of this review.
By Jane Howkins
There are four lovely songs on The Trouble With Me, opening with the gorgeous Let’s See Where This Goes. The track has a traditional folk vibe from the start, as the lovely violins draw you into Denney’s world. Whilst the violins are clearly the focal point of the track, a pleasant acoustic guitar melody also joins in, alongside a quiet rhythm section. Denney’s vocals are interspersed throughout the track, disappearing every so often to allow the violins to take control.
Trying To Be Someone is slightly different, opening with a pretty piano melody. It’s a bit more stripped-down than the previous song, although the acoustic guitar does make another appearance, alongside some surprising (yet very welcome) brass instrumentation. It’s a really haunting piece of work – the horns create an anthemic and nostalgic sound, suiting Denney’s lyrics well.
Tread Carefully brings the tempo up a little more, creating something almost jazzy with the way the guitars and horns are interspersed together. They create a really nice texture in the background, as Denney’s vocals take pride of place here, drawing your attention on the very first listen. The saxophone is particularly delightful, making for a welcome change from the otherwise folky sound of the record.
What More Can I Say? is the slowest song on the record, seeming extremely melancholic. It’s very slow, having an almost classical quality, due to the orchestral elements in the background. They carry through the track in a pretty way, working well alongside the subtle beat and piano motifs. It really is beautiful, closing the record out nicely.
The Trouble With Me is another welcome offering from S J Denney, showing many improvements across the board from his previous release. It’s great to hear him delving into more genres here, creating a lot of variety within the record.
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