Deleyaman – Sentinel (Album – TTO Records)

Genre/Influences: Ethereal, cinematographic, chanson.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Sentinel” is the eighth album from the French collective Deleyaman. Just as for the previous album (cf.  “The Lover The Stars & The Citadel”) they invited Brendan Perry (Dead Can Dance) to play on one of the songs. Other guests like Jules Maxwell and Mădălina Drouvin Obreja have been invited as well.

Content: “Sentinel” is a delicious sound universe mixing elements of ethereal-, world-, cinematic- and chanson music. It’s maybe one of the band’s most diversified works. It’s an album filled with poetry and played with the grace of authentic instruments like duduk, bouzouki ao. It injects this ethereal touch, which is reinforced by the female vocals. The album sounds like the offspring between European- and Eastern cultures leading the listener into reverie.

+ + + : I like the album’s authenticity, which is mainly created by the use of multiple acoustic- and authentic instruments. The presence (again) of Brendan Perry playing bouzouki on “The Valley” accentuates the beauty of the work. Deleyaman stands for delicate sound treatments and creates an intimate atmosphere. The songs feel like a delicate caress while the poetry (mainly taken from French poets) empowers the melancholia hanging over the music. The male- and female vocals create a truly symbiosis. This is without a shadow of a doubt the most poignant and successful opus by Deleyaman.

– – – :  I don’t have any minus points nor regret about this album. Some might say that they were more into ethereal music before, but they now have a more personal sound.

Conclusion: “Sentinel” is one of the first ‘great’ and accomplished works from 2020! This is a diversified piece of grace and artistic beauty for which, we can only, but be grateful.

Best songs: “The Valley”, “Keep Me Light”, “Exil”, “De Roses Vermeilles”, “1973”.

Rate: (9).

Artist & Label: www.deleyaman.com / www.facebook.com/deleyaman