Sans Froid
Powerful Bristol-based art rock band introduce angst and anger into prog.
Bristol-based four-piece Sans Froid are developing a following in the prog community following powerful sets at Eppyfest and the prestigious ArcTanGent Festivals over the summer of 2025. Beginning as a two-piece featuring keyboard player and vocalist Ais Rhiannon and drummer Toby Green, they gradually developed into a full band by adding guitarist Charlie Barnes and finally bassist Ben Harris. A five-year gap between debut EP 'Aged' and their debut album 'Hello, Boil Brain' shows how the band have developed in that time. Indeed, these two releases sound like two different units, with both the angst and the guitars now to the fore following their piano-dominated beginnings.
“I think we’re angrier now, but it’s quite metaphorical,” says Rhiannon.
“We’re metaphorically fuming!” Green laughs.
The band’s music is difficult to categorise, combining moments of serene delicacy with sections of near-discordant power. How did the band’s influences combine to create such social variations?
“As a band, I suppose our crossover points would be Bjork, Radiohead and Mars Volta, but individually we're all quite different” says Rhiannon. The whole band also revere Danish pop-proggers Mew. ”They are the perfect band, but they’re absolutely insane,’ confirms Barnes.
All those elements are clearly evident. Rhiannon has a trance-like performance style that is both appealing and slightly disconcerting. As well as Tori Amos, Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell, she cites a more surprising influence in James LaBrie of Dream Theater. She also makes excellent use of vocal effects, which she operates from her keyboard station.
“It’s much easier than having to argue with a sound engineer every time you play,” she says, “I think just being able to be in complete control of my vocal sound is what I've always wanted to be able to do. My voice processor wasn't expensive, and it's served me really well.”
The rest of the band are equally impressive, with Green’s drumming both thunderous and technical, while Barnes’ guitar style is distinctive both in sound and performance, with the musician swirling around the stage like a supple Wilko Johnson. What are his influences?
“Well, I really like the guitarists in the US punk band Deerhoof. They are discordant, jangly and horrible. But I had a guitar teacher who showed me Captain Beefheart and stuff like that from quite an early age.”
Completing the band is bassist Harris, usually a guitarist and a musician who joins the great tradition of transitioning six-string players, which includes Paul McCartney and Noel Redding, although his influences are heavier and he brings that to the band’s dynamic. He may be a reluctant bassist in some ways, but he remains philosophical. “I just want to make music with these guys and playing bass in the band is the best way to do that.”
The band are currently recording but are unsure whether to release independently or via a label. However, with the current batch of songs truly collaborative for the first time, it seems they have finally found the sound and approach they have been searching for.
Stephen Lambe
PROG FILE
Line-up: Ais Rhiannon: vocals and keyboards, Toby Green: drums and vocals, Charlie Barnes: guitar, Ben Harris: bass
Sounds like: Bjork bumps into Radiohead at a Mars Volta concert
Current release: 'Hello, Boil Brain' is out now via Bandcamp
Website: https://sansfroid.bandcamp.com/