Album Review: Rare Seed - Blue Basin (2022)
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Rare Seed - Blue Basin
Release Date: April 18, 2022
Label: selfrelease
Format: CD / Digital
Duration: 36:55
Genre: Indie Rock / Krautrock / Surf Rock
Origin: New Orleans, LA, USA
Rare Seed is a one-person band that was recently formed by Lex Condes in New Orleans, Louisiana. Bridging the hiatus of his other band, Condes began recording his own songs solely. With "Blue Basin" the first longplayer by Rare Seed is now available. The ten-track album can be bought on Bandcamp, and if you are very lucky, you can get one of the twenty hand-painted CDs there, too.
The first album by Rare Seed breathes the air of Condes' home town New Orleans. The artists processes the city's moods and vibrations, its aspirations and the social interaction taking place on and beyond its streets, and he then wrapped them up musically. So, lean back, press play, and enjoy the air of NOLA - this is "Blue Basin".
The album is opened by the krauty and jazzy anthem 'The Royal We' (video above) - a sunny and sweet Krautjazz hymn driven by energetic Rhythm and Blues. The gorgeous soundscape may remind of Leipzig's Krautjazz combo Kamala, and it tells of the complexities when trying to save the world but examining oneself first. After the psychedelic sounds of the opener gently transition into the second track's opening, this tune suddenly adapts a brisk tempo and turns into a fuzzy Surf Rock banger while concerning the frustrating feeling of not finding motivation for anything at all.
The fuzzy and dizzy Surf Rock theme stays a central element of the following easy-going song 'StandingWallsCrashingWaves' which ends in a deeply thrilling and exciting coda before gliding into the Psychedelic Folk tune '(Sluice Your Mind)'. Certain parallels to the sound of Australian artist Morrison Reed pop up although Rare Seed's music is way sunnier than Reed's.
Half way through the album, the song 'Lake of Light' creates a powerful and colourful vortex of sound. The margins of this massive structure most likely feature waves that long for being ridden by courageous surfers. Once again, the coda especially goes full throttle. The soft outro is then followed by the gently organ that leads into the track 'Hard Boiled Wonderland'. This intermission makes you can taste refreshing cocktails at the beach and feel the early states of severe sunburn. After the melancholic 'Wavy Pictures' has filled your mind with sweet nostalgia, 'Blood Filled Skull' deals with accepting death as an inevitable part of life. With a certain Shoegaze or Brit Pop air, this therapeutic tune invites the audience to abandon their fear form death and embrace life instead.
'Blood Filled Skull' fades out into the soothing guitar intro of 'Undulations'. Together with the organ, this sweet tune sounds like waking up at the most beautiful coastline, with a gentle toucan watching you from a palm tree and the fanciest coastal breeze caressing your face. As the sounds turn a little darker, the final track 'Blue Basin' begins. The title track is a great hommage to Mother Nature, her everlasting presence, and her eternal state. Nature and our evironment have been here before us, and they will hopefully survive us; humankind is a visitor to her realms.
And as the final notes fade out, the taste of sea salt, oranges, or refreshing beverages remains. Yet, its intensity may decrease and therefore, reality with all of its dark and unpleasant aftertastes may show up again. This makes Rare Seed's "Blue Basin" a fantastically therapeutic sonic journey. Lex Condes provides a 36-minute trip to paradise, a short journey to sunshine, happiness, and idyllic beauty. This stunning album will let the sun shine on rainy days - and it sounds amazing on a beautiful day, too.
Rare Seed Online:
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Music from this release has been added to the following dynamic playlists:
MangoRotation
The Mango 100: Cinematic Sounds
The Mango 100: Garage / Surf
The Mango 100: Indie & Alternative
The Mango 100: Kraut / Electronica
The Mango 100: Post Rock / Psych
The Mango 100: Soul / R'n'B
Sound of the USA: The Mango 100
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