You eat the Time, Spit out The Seeds, You're Planting Life
TastyBabySyndrome | "Daddy Dagon's Daycare" - Proud Sponsor of the Lit | 11/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You really have to give Metropolis Records "props" for the way it handles itself. While many labels become dull with time, only propelling the mainstays they stable into the limelight, Metropolis gets out there and finds talent. They've always been that way, trying to stay on the edge of both electronic body movement (or electronic beat music, depending on your definition of the genre EBM) and the more experimental electronic arts, and they've been really good at it. They've traversed both these coastlines and abroad, and they manage to dig talent out of places where it would otherwise be wasted. In only a short time they've given me some of the best music I've hear din years, and I'm quite thankful for that.
And Seabound is one of the bands that prove that they still have "a nack" for finding fruits with harvesting.
Since the release of Beyond Flatline, Seabound has been one of those bands that people were taken aback by. I have to admit that I was, having this blip pop up in the middle of EBM and sound so good, and I know that I wasn't alone. Seemingly out of nowhere these great vocals surged forward, with little tastes of both ballad and breaking in tow, and many people wondered where it came from. What was even more surprising is that they weren't new, that they had actually released another album entitled No Sleep Demon, and that the album was equally impressive. It was simply backed by a label with less clout than Metropolis, and having talent is only a portion of the puzzle. After Beyond Flatline, Metropolis decided to remedy this, re-releasing No Sleep Demon (Version 2.0) with cleaned up sounds and a few new songs - and it was most welcome.
Having said all of that, I have to admit that I was initially hesitant to pick up the release, always afraid of earlier sounds from bands that work in the electronic arena. While drifting backward can be a beautiful thing, it can also be frightening depending on how talented the band was. I've had the unpleasant shock of finding earlier releases more than once, so it took me a little while to order this baby. But, with time, I found myself unable to resist and gave it the go. And, when I finally had the work in my hands, I found all of my fears relieved (and then some) because this album was just as good as the band made me hope it would be. In fact, it was arguably better than Beyond Flatline, and has managed to work its way into my playlist for the last three weeks - a feat in and of itself.
From the beginning rotation I found myself really enjoying certain songs, with the melodically darkened skies of "Point Break" catching me and the hook of "Rome on Fire" working its way into my mind. Both had certain characteristics I liked, with "Point Break" using overlapping vocals that seem bleak on one end and pleading on the other and "Rome on Fire" commenting on the dull razor we call love, and both also had contrasting elements within them. And the whole album is like, with some songs going up and some songs leveling out, maintaining a hue that isn't exactly bright and isn't exactly beat but that is catchy because it doesn't get tired. Instead of the boredom I usually find after a week or so, I found myself growing close to "Torn" as the initial buzz of something new wore off, with its more depressing message catching and holding me, and "Hooked" making me want to hold the turn of time as well.
If still in doubt, some of my personal favorites I would recommend sampling via Metropolis or Amazon are the aforementioned songs and "Day of the Century," perhaps "Exorcize" (noting that it does have a clip in it that could be really offensive to some), and "Torn." And I would recommend checking this out, because it's quite beautiful within the duality of both beat and bounty it presents.
"
This stuff is good !
Moskovich Gil | Kiryat-Gat , Israel | 02/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you like ebm /industrial / synthpop music ( vnv nation , assemblage 23 , icon of coil and etc... ) , this one is for you.
After i heard their 2nd album "beyond flatline" , i thought that this band is an important addition to the electro scene , and that they will be great in the future. After i bought their first album , i was blown away - this is awsome stuff ! much better that "beyond..." and very good for itself. highly recommended. i can't wait for their next effort...
Just listen to track #3 or #8 , and you will understand. these tracks hit you from the first listening , and the rest needs a couple of more listening - but all the songs here are good."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1