Three years since Ronan Carroll first appeared as Tenaka with his debut 'Eponymously Titled', a new extended play, Ephemeral has surfaced. Five recognised Irish artists collaborated and with seven tracks and 20 minutes, it shows a distinct difference to its precursor.
Beginning with original material, 'Three' is an accessible introduction to Tenaka's sound with a sweet vocal sample and gorgeous, starry central melody. 'Home' follows with the first collaboration, Daithi O'Dronai's rhythmic twanging fiddle set to a deep oscillating rumble. Before launching into a rapid flurry of snatching beats, fellow Galwegian Elaine Mai enters with a fabulously pure vocal. It sounds close to something Martina Topley-Bird might dream up with Massive Attack and indeed, 'Heligoland' was similarly loaded with cameos from notable vocalists. 'Home' is an interesting exploration but split into three parts with little continuity and while nice, seems incomplete, lacking a central thread.
However a development comes with 'Open Out' which formerly appeared on the previous, four-track 'Eponymously Titled': there is a notable difference immediately. With Ian Maleney at the producer's helm, 'Open Out' has been tweaked, tidied and condensed and sounds far better for it. Slimmed down to 3.22 from its original 4.02, despite this it uses a slower tempo intro to build up to full stride with a murmuring beat and Holy Roman Army on vocals.
Surprisingly, another track 'The Alaskan' from 'Eponymously Titled' makes an appearance. Surprising because it was the best track on the first EP and now, despite the higher quality overall in Ephemeral marks itself out as superior once more. Remarkably strong and brisk, using a tattoo of sharp beats, it stands apart due to the first version's roughness. Originally the beats were cut with what sounded like a squeak of rubber and now sounds like sharp hisses, as if the music were alive and drawing breath. Rather than overpowering what follows next, an odd but suitable match comes with the soothing vocal tones of Darragh Nolan from Sacred Animals. Overall there's far more of a tribal knack to 'The Alaskan' yet it doesn't overstep its boundaries too far from the original to become The African.
'Universe i' delivers an eerie, repetitive vocal from Sorcha Brennan of Sleep Thieves and is in fact the most expansive track, nestled neatly half-way through. With gorgeous samples, dispossessed vocal and pulsar rhythm, it's far more cohesive than 'Home'. The intriguingly brief 'Throw Sevens' sounds like an interim that was too good to discard, and the final part of the package comes in the sprightly feelgood reworking of violinist Daithi O'Dronai's song 'The Dog' which appeared a few months back and it's good to see it collared for this release.
While it would be good to see more fresh material from Tenaka, the quality of work in Ephemeral is high with absorbing melodies and fine collaborations in a streamlined package. Given another two years, Tenaka may well burst out a long-player with immense gravitas.
