A thoughtful, bittersweet follow-up  

The word “well” symbolizes many things: a deep cistern, a source of rejuvenation, a pause in speech, or a basic state of physical or mental goodness. Tenci’s sophomore album A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing, asks, “what’s on the other side of the well?” (Keeled Scales).

Tenci made their debut in 2020 with My Heart is an Open Field – an album as thought-provoking and laid back as a sunset on a clear evening. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Jess Shoman – joined by bassist Izzy Reidy, guitarist Curtis Oren and drummer Joseph Farago –  created a wide-open sky of meditative lyrics and tasteful textures that enchanted listeners. The debut album, according to Shoman, “dealt with letting go of painful life experiences, resulting in emptiness.” Thematically and musically, A Swollen River picks up where My Heart left off: on the other side of grief where restoration occurs. 

After touring the United States in support of their first album, the Chicago-based band returned home to record A Swollen River with engineer Abby Black. Shoman described the new songs as a way to “fill [their] heart back up by reframing complex feelings … and seeing them in a different way.” This change in perspective is well-supported by Shoman’s bandmates, who step more into the foreground this time.

Shoman’s lyrics are philosophical, poetic ruminations set to music. They bring the songwriter’s inner world to life vividly and candidly, as if their words skipped the page and floated into the air without a filter in a way that not many songwriters can achieve. A trademark of Shoman’s writing, phrases are often repeated for emphasis and to highlight ambiguous meanings. Notably, near the end of “Sour Cherries”, the vocalist repeats the phrase “love is sour cherries” – each time with a different word being emphasized. This section is one of a few highlights of the album that depict a balance between calm and chaos which the band has become known for. Additionally, an ever-shifting juxtaposition of joy and sorrow gives the otherwise-hopeful album a decidedly heavy, bittersweet, even depressing undertone characteristic of Midwest-emo music. For example, listeners can’t help but smile listening to “Memories”, which incorporates home recordings of Shoman as a child as they sing of taking sweet memories wherever they go. Contrarily, “Blue” describes the story of Shoman’s mother’s dog, who was killed when neighborhood kids threw the dog a poisoned bone. While jarring, these shifting tones accurately reflect the contrasting seasons of life and the aftermath of grief.

When meanings are obscure, the music conveys the singer’s emotion in a way that words can’t. Shoman’s vocals are haunting and eccentric with a deep, rich tone and wide vibrato. Oren’s tenor sax tone and style are the perfect complements — unconventional yet confident and convincing. Reidy and Farago are a rock-solid bedrock upon which layers of guitars, swirling woodwinds and elaborate vocal harmonies are built. 

All in all, A Swollen River feels like a new level of musicianship for the band; their chemistry is inspiring. Shoman’s lyrics resonate strongly with grief-stricken listeners, offering the same comfort of a friend who has stood in their shoes and made it to the other side of the “well”. An interesting and impassioned follow-up album, A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing is a welcome addition to Tenci’s discography.