Punk rock demigod Jack Grisham once quipped that the real definition of ‘selling out’ was releasing the same sound over and over and acquiescing to what the fans want, regardless of whether you’re signed to Sony or sending out your DIY cassette tapes to fans via snail mail. The best bands are those that innovate, recreate themselves, forge new paths rather than blow dust off the blueprints.
And that’s why we had our eyes and ears pinned on SEIMS‘ new record. 3 presents the Sydney one-man-band-cum-quartet marking a distinct change from their happy electro-instrumental rock to a densely progressive and undeniably noisier musical crusade enhanced with horns, strings and synths. It’s clear from the get-go, as the poppy hooks typical of their 2015 effort II have been replaced with slack, angular, Polvo-esque chord progressions in opening track ‘Cyan’, which slowly evolve to a jazzy climax complete with horn section not unlike, say Naked City. Second track ‘Magenta’ is filled with quirky Rick Wakeman-style keys, bringing a space-y 70’s prog pastiche. The 12 minute epic ‘Yellow’ brings a cacophony of screeching guitars; and closer ‘Imperfect Black’, ironically the most colourful on the tracklist, balances compelling instrumental melodies with a fine vocal performance by Sydney act Wartime Sweethearts.
This is undoubtedly new territory for SEIMS, exciting territory. As is implicit in its theme, 3 is armed with a fresh palette of musical colour, which sees the band forging new sounds, motifs, and song structures. A right show from us quaint folk Down Under.
The band will be traversing the globe through November and December, including a set at our own Bahamas Fest in Tokyo. Here are the details…
Nov 4 – BAHAMASFEST, Shinjuku, Japan
Nov 5 – Fai-Aoyama, Japan
Nov 6 – w/ Jean Jean (FRA), Shinjuku, Japan
Dec 1 – w/ OOLLUU and El Colosso – The Catfish, Melbourne
Dec 2 – w/ Dr. Parallax – Fat Louie’s, Brisbane
Dec 8 w/ We Lost the Sea & Wartime Sweethearts – The Lansdowne, Sydney
SEIMS’ new album 3 will be released October 26th via Bird’s Robe Records and Art As Catharsis. Pre-orders can be made here. Git on it.