Sacred Spaces

Sacred Spaces is a live-to-tape reimagining of Brian Fennell's work under the SYML moniker, recorded at Saint Mark's Cathedral in Seattle. Released in 2021, the album serves as a bridge between his indie-pop origins and a more sophisticated, neoclassical aesthetic. The project features a string quartet and the vocal ensemble Girl Name, which replaces the synthesizers and drum machines of his debut with organic, acoustic textures. The tracklist includes reworkings of his most famous singles, such as 'Where's My Love' and 'Fear of the Water,' alongside newer material. Critically, the album was noted for its exceptional engineering, capturing the unique acoustic properties of the cathedral without losing the clarity of Fennell's intimate vocal delivery. It represents a significant moment in his career where he fully embraced the 'cinematic' label often applied to his music, leaning into a liturgical and timeless sound that distances itself from contemporary indie-folk trends.