Seneko
Soul Numbers
(Torrez Music Group)

Seneko’s new Soul Numbers, is the 3rd EP release in four years from the rockin’ folky singer/songwriter Stan Olshefski and his band; Tim Denbo on bass, David Dorn manning keys, Dave Racine on drums, and Jon Conley playing guitars. The stellar backing vocal support from Kendra Chantelle, Nicole Boggs, Maureen Murphy (really making this music unique, I feel) infuse these five tunes beautifully, rendering the entire little collection perfect.

From the bouncy piano/organ mover “Callin’ of the Cause,” to the vocally-laden and twinkly guitars of “Jenny’s with Irene,” (I love the subtle lyric strike on this one especially) to the MOR groove of the obvious single, “Lost on Me,” it is apparent that not only is Olshefski a solid songwriter, with a cool, almost Warren Zevon-y/Lou Reed delivery (in the best of all possible ways) but he and the band reveal an artful production with a bunch of tunes offering a light theme running through them.

The biggest rocker here, “One Hot Shot,” (another potential single I feel) might be where everything comes together best on  Soul Numbers. Not that the other tunes here are not fine, on this one the players are locked in perfect, the backing vocals reaching heights while Conley manages his best lead work. A masterful tune from a masterful EP.

Not even out of the first month of the New Year and Seneko gives us this gift! How wonderful is that?!