Serena Maneesh (album)

Serena Maneesh (or Serena-Maneesh) is the debut album by Serena Maneesh. The album was partly recorded in Steve Albini's respected Electrical Audio Recordings studio in Chicago as well as in various facilities in New York City and Oslo. Contributors to the album include Sufjan Stevens, Martin Bisi (who worked with Sonic Youth and Iggy Pop) and co-producer Daniel Smith of Danielson Famile.

The album yielded two singles: "Drain Cosmetics" in June 2006, and "Sapphire Eyes" in October 2006. "Beehiver II" is an alternative version of the song "Beehiver," first released on the band's 2002 EP Fixxations. An alternate version of "Sapphire Eyes," subtitled Serena-Maneesh Refix, was released as a digital single, as a B-side on the "Drain Cosmetics" single, and on the split single with American band Blood on the Wall.

Reception
Critical reception to the album was positive. Pitchfork Media graded the album 8.6 out of 10 and rated the album as one of the Top 50 Albums of 2005. Norway's national newspaper Dagbladet rated it Norwegian Album of the Year, and Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars out of 5.

Track listing
All tracks written by Emil Nikolaisen.


 * 1) "Drain Cosmetics" – 3:41
 * 2) "Selina's Melodie Fountain" – 5:39
 * 3) "Un-Deux" – 1:56
 * 4) "Candlelighted" – 6:36
 * 5) "Beehiver II" – 4:44
 * 6) "Her Name Is Suicide" – 3:44
 * 7) "Sapphire Eyes" – 7:09
 * 8) "Don't Come Down Here" – 7:20
 * 9) "Chorale Lick" – 3:16
 * 10) "Simplicity" – 1:56
 * 11) "Your Blood in Mine" – 12:09


 * Vinyl-only bonus tracks
 * 1) "Untitled #1"
 * 2) "Untitled #2"

Personnel

 * Emil Nikolaisen: vocals, guitar, bass, samples, organ, vibes, drums, piano, harmonium, mellotron, mandolin
 * Anders Møller: percussion
 * David Wallumrød: organ
 * Anders Salomon Lidal: flute, analog synth
 * Sondre Tristan Midttun: guitar
 * Lina Holmström: vocals
 * Eivind Schou: violin
 * Hilma Nikolaisen: vocals
 * Håvard Krogedal: cello, organ
 * Harald Frøland: guitar
 * Sufjan Stevens: flute, marimba
 * Inge Svege: harmonica
 * Hilde Bialach: cello
 * Samuel Durling: Indian vibes
 * Dag Stiberg: sax
 * Daniel Smith: backing vocals
 * Asle Eikrem: tamburin

Production

 * Christian Engfelt: mixing
 * Marius Bodin: mixing
 * Morten Lund: mastering
 * Ingar Hunskaar: pre-mastering
 * Tommy Akerholdt: drums, co-arranger
 * Björn Engelmann: mastering
 * Martin Bisi: samples, mixing
 * Espen Høydalsvik: percussion, engineer
 * Greg Norman: sound engineer