‘fencah – One Last Time’ is a soulful indie/folk rock tribute song that’s deeply emotional and touching.
fencah, aka Max Zauner, wrote this song as a personal dedication to his grandmother, who passed away after years of battling with dementia. Listeners of Porcupine Tree and Blackfield’s mellower tracks will identify with fencah’s raw emotionality, graceful vocals, intimate lyrics, and genuine sonic artistry. After years of playing drums in Austrian rock bands like Kitty in a Casket, ELSA, and Greyshadow, Max now emerges in a new folk/indie-oriented avatar, fencah. ‘One Last Time’ is his debut single. We’re all for it.
‘One Last Time’ opens with soft strums and Max’s tender vocals. When he sings ‘one last time’, it rings softly with the sadness, reverence & devotion he feels for his grandmother. It feels sacred and intimate. Angelic synths and sliding guitar notes build up as the arrangement slowly gains momentum.
When he sings, ‘Could you do everything you wanted to, or were you halted?” You can feel an increase in volume and tempo, and this feels like a point of emphasis. Then, it explodes to life with steady percussion and a rhythm shift. The vocals become more energetic, and the instrumentation supports this upshift in energy. In no way does this take away from the emotional gravity of this track; in fact, it elevates it.
The arrangement flows beautifully from there, maintaining an unhurried pace and tempo that aligns perfectly with Max’s vocals. The production is immersive, allowing each instrument to be felt deeply, along with the vocals.
The lyrics are simple and honest, yet deeply personal and conversational. The listener can’t help but think about his elderly grandparents and feel love and affection for them. Accompanying this track is a beautiful video, created using footage from memorable moments of their personal lives.
‘fencah – One Last Time’ has a powerful, authentic emotional energy to it that resonates long after the track is done. We look forward to hearing more from this group.
Stream ‘fencah – One Last Time’ on Spotify here:
