Penumbra marks the seventh album by Sairen, the guitar-driven post-rock project by Guillaume De Marqué from Brittany, France.

Composed between 2023 and 2024, the album showcases ten tracks crafted with a slow tempo, inviting deep introspection and exploration. Drawing inspiration from the concept of chiaroscuro, a painting technique that contrasts light and shadow to create depth, the music mirrors these contrasts through subtle tonal shifts, invoking a profound sense of light and darkness.

Guillaume explains: “The original idea of ​​a song can be a guitar riff, a melodic phrase, or a rhythmic pattern,” citing the track “Division” as an example of a piece where the rhythm creates the feeling of acceleration through a unique note duration pattern.”

Recorded amidst the windswept, misty landscapes of Brittany, Penumbra blends dark, melodic guitar riffs and arpeggios with occasional brass instrumentation, such as in “Bradycardie” and the ethereal “One Last Hour.” Electro elements also find their place, notably in the atmospheric “Yonaka” and the closing track, “Grace in Darkness.” These moments enrich the album’s evolving sound and add soaring layers to its otherwise haunting atmosphere.

Tracks like “Métamorphose” showcase the album’s nuanced character, starting with a slow, brooding tempo and building into a playful finale with delay guitars, electro arpeggios, and a liberated rhythm.

For this album, Sairen enlisted the seasoned expertise of Magnus Lindberg for mixing and mastering, enhancing the album’s dynamic range and bringing clarity to its intricate soundscapes.

Penumbra delivers a captivating journey through dramatic and serene moments, offering a guitar-heavy sound that is both contemplative and introspective, drawing the listener into its evocative layers.