Serena Maneesh (or Serena-Maneesh) is the debut album by Serena Maneesh. The album was partly recorded in Steve Albini's respected Electrical Audio Recordings studio in Chicago as well as in various facilities in New York City and Oslo. Contributors to the album include Sufjan Stevens, Martin Bisi (who worked with Sonic Youth and Iggy Pop) and co-producer Daniel Smith of Danielson Famile.
The album yielded two singles: "Drain Cosmetics" in June 2006, and "Sapphire Eyes" in October 2006. "Beehiver II" is an alternative version of the song "Beehiver," first released on the band's 2002 EP Fixxations. An alternate version of "Sapphire Eyes," subtitled Serena-Maneesh Refix, was released as a digital single, as a B-side on the "Drain Cosmetics" single, and on the split single with American band Blood on the Wall.
Reception
Critical reception to the album was positive. Pitchfork Media graded the album 8.6 out of 10 and rated the album as one of the Top 50 Albums of 2005.Pitchfork: Top 50 Albums of 2005 Norway's national newspaper Dagbladet rated it Norwegian Album of the Year,Dagbladet (6/12/2005) and Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars out of 5.[ allmusic – Serena Maneesh]
Track listing
Personnel Emil Nikolaisen – vocals, guitar, bass, samples, organ, vibes, drums, piano, harmonium, mellotron, mandolin Anders Møller – percussion David Wallumrød – organ Anders Salomon Lidal – flute, analog synth Sondre Tristan Midttun – guitar Lina Holmström – vocals Eivind Schou – violin Hilma Nikolaisen – vocals Håvard Krogedal – cello, organ Harald Frøland – guitar Sufjan Stevens – flute, marimba Inge Svege – harmonica Hilde Bialach – cello Samuel Durling – Indian vibes Dag Stiberg – sax Daniel Smith – backing vocals Asle Eikrem – tamburin
Production Christian Engfelt – mixing Marius Bodin – mixing Morten Lund – mastering Ingar Hunskaar – pre-mastering Tommy Akerholdt – drums, co-arranger Björn Engelmann – mastering Martin Bisi – samples, mixing Espen Høydalsvik – percussion, engineer Greg Norman – sound engineer
Release history CountryDateLabel Format Catalogue #Norway 29 August 2005 HoneyMilk Records CD HONEY020 20 December 2005 Hype City Recordings 2LP HCR-011North America 9 May 2006Playlouder Recordings/Beggars Group CD PLAYR4CD 23 May 2006 2LP PLAYR4LPUnited Kingdom26 June 2006 CD PLAYR4CD 2LP PLAYR4LP
References