Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
After 2007's sophomore Contact failed to capitalize on the slow-building word-of-mouth success of their debut, The Invitation, Cornwall four-piece Thirteen Senses were presumed to have suffered the same career fate as fellow underperforming melancholic indie rock artists like Kubb, Morning Runner, and Long-View. However, four years on, they now make a belated return with a brand new LP, Crystal Sounds, and a slightly more experimental sound than the Coldplay-imitating output of their two previous releases. The long-winded trickling of the album's material may not instill a huge amount of confidence (several of its tracks were first premiered on their MySpace page way back in 2008, while the whole thing was streamed on their official site in 2010), but with Crystal Sounds written, recorded, and produced in their own studio, and released through their own B-Sirius label, Thirteen Senses seem invigorated by the amount of creative freedom they've been afforded. Three new tracks have been added to the previous online edition, the psychedelic dream pop of the Flaming Lips-esque "In the Crowding," the summery acoustic folk of "Send Myself to Sleep," and the elegant heartfelt "Concept." But it's the original ten tracks that best showcase Will South's impassioned, softly soaring vocals and the band's subtle and natural career progression. Lead single "The Loneliest Star" is a muscular fusion of pounding rhythms, appropriately spacy synths, and prog rock guitars; "Out There" is a glorious attempt at grandiose orchestral pop that sounds like it's wandered in from a Rufus Wainwright album; and the haunting choral chants, syncopated beats, and cinematic strings of the spiky opening track evoke the epic prog rock of Mew. Their trademark chiming guitars, anthemic piano chords, and vague nondescript lyrics are still very much present, particularly on "After the Retreat," as if the band hasn't quite gotten the courage to move fully away from its signature sound. But with Thirteen Senses previously pilloried for their obvious influences, Crystal Sounds is still a noticeably creative step up, and should at the very least muffle the sounds of their critics and perhaps convert a few, too.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12.49€/month
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Craig Potter, Mixer - Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Craig Potter, Mixer - Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Will South, Lyricist - Tom Welham, Producer, Mixer - Thirteen Senses, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Album review
After 2007's sophomore Contact failed to capitalize on the slow-building word-of-mouth success of their debut, The Invitation, Cornwall four-piece Thirteen Senses were presumed to have suffered the same career fate as fellow underperforming melancholic indie rock artists like Kubb, Morning Runner, and Long-View. However, four years on, they now make a belated return with a brand new LP, Crystal Sounds, and a slightly more experimental sound than the Coldplay-imitating output of their two previous releases. The long-winded trickling of the album's material may not instill a huge amount of confidence (several of its tracks were first premiered on their MySpace page way back in 2008, while the whole thing was streamed on their official site in 2010), but with Crystal Sounds written, recorded, and produced in their own studio, and released through their own B-Sirius label, Thirteen Senses seem invigorated by the amount of creative freedom they've been afforded. Three new tracks have been added to the previous online edition, the psychedelic dream pop of the Flaming Lips-esque "In the Crowding," the summery acoustic folk of "Send Myself to Sleep," and the elegant heartfelt "Concept." But it's the original ten tracks that best showcase Will South's impassioned, softly soaring vocals and the band's subtle and natural career progression. Lead single "The Loneliest Star" is a muscular fusion of pounding rhythms, appropriately spacy synths, and prog rock guitars; "Out There" is a glorious attempt at grandiose orchestral pop that sounds like it's wandered in from a Rufus Wainwright album; and the haunting choral chants, syncopated beats, and cinematic strings of the spiky opening track evoke the epic prog rock of Mew. Their trademark chiming guitars, anthemic piano chords, and vague nondescript lyrics are still very much present, particularly on "After the Retreat," as if the band hasn't quite gotten the courage to move fully away from its signature sound. But with Thirteen Senses previously pilloried for their obvious influences, Crystal Sounds is still a noticeably creative step up, and should at the very least muffle the sounds of their critics and perhaps convert a few, too.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:01:41
- Main artists: Thirteen Senses
- Composer: Thirteen Senses
- Label: B-Sirius
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
2011 b-sirius records 2011 b-sirius records
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.