Album Review: San Fermin’s ‘Jackrabbit’

[mashshare]

San Fermin’s music can best be described as a gorgeous cacophony, which is brilliantly showcased on their new full-length album, Jackrabbit (iTunes | Amazon). The baroque pop band is the brainchild of classical musician and multi-instrumentalist Ellis Ludwig-Leone, and features the rich vocals of Allen Tate contrasted against the mystical voice of lead female vocalist Charlene Kaye. Since the release of their self-titled debut, the band has made significant transformations and currently tours as an octet.

Jackrabbit is an intense journey through the human mind full of thundering drums, crashing brass, tantalizing strings, and vocals that’ll give you some serious chills. From the onset, San Fermin sweeps you off your feet with their powerful intro “The Woods,” which starts out slow and somber then gradually transforms into a dark and stormy musical chaos. Each song seamlessly transitions into one another, a flow that Ludwig-Leone has perfected since the first album’s release. The songs trapeze from upbeat pop with singles like “Jackrabbit” to dark and contemplative tracks like “Parasites” (my personal favorite). Each song is masterfully crafted, and Tate and Kaye’s vocals mesh together and compliment each other so perfectly.

Kaye’s voice shines and commands attention in the thumping and powerful “Philosopher” about halfway through the album. Moving on, Kaye and Tate’s voices swirl together in the urgent “Woman in Red.” The fast-paced track is filled with a violin that pulls on your heartstrings and keys that rattle your core. The album concludes appropriately with the hauntingly serious “Billy Bibbit.” The sound coming from Jackrabbit is almost too grandiose to fit in your headphones—it seems impossible to imagine the band playing in an arena large enough to hold their humungous sound.

Each song is packed with so much emotion and devotion that the album’s overall beauty can’t be captured upon just one listen. The almost 45-minute length passes by so quickly that you’ll instinctually be reaching to replay it from the start again because you just haven’t had enough. Don’t worry, we’re right there with you.