REVIEWS

Seabound
Beyond Flatline

Many of you may already be familiar with the band Seabound as they came onto the electronic music scene with their debut release No Sleep Demon on Dependent Records. Since that release in 2002, Seabound have been gaining increasing attention as their infectious electro-pop sound coursed through the electronic community. Band mates Martin Vorbodt and Frank Spinath deliver very powerful dance music with an emotional quality unmatched by most bands in the industry. Seabound signed with Metropolis Records to release their second album, Beyond Flatline. Their latest offering has all the mellow and hollow-sounding vocals that you would expect from a good deal of synthpop acts, but the music is incredibly catchy and it is hard to resist bopping your head or tapping your toes along with. The tracks pretty much describe emotional emptiness and loss. This album is no ordinary synthpop album as some of the elements in the songs as well as some whole tracks are not entirely conducive to what is generally thought to be a synthpop sound. A good example of this is the fourth track in the album, titled "Digital." This track has a trance sound complete with a hypnotic looping rhythm and a fairly stripped down sound. The vocals are whispered and warped throughout the track creating the perfect backdrop for the trippy music. As different as that track is to the norm of synthpop, the following track is definitely the opposite. "Poisonous Friend" is a prime example of a standard synthpop track. It has the programming elements of a speedier bass line and melodic synthesizers, and no synthpop track would be complete without the harmonious chorus. This track has all of those elements and that is just what a person looking for good synthpop would want to hear. The band stays true to their core sound, but they are not afraid to branch out into other sounds. This is a perfect way to maintain originality and create a unique album that can attract a diverse fan base. Another high point on the album is "Transformer," which starts the album off and piques the listener's interest making the rest of the album an exciting thing to look forward to. This track could easily be a dance floor hit, but then again many of the tracks on this album could qualify for that honor. Another noteworthy track is the beautifully soundscaped "Torch," which contains hauntingly enchanting synth chords which seemingly float from the speakers. The vocals are once again perfect for the track as they are mellow and yet slightly forlorn. Listening to this track makes me want to lie back and just reflect. This album is a great addition to the genres of electro-pop and synthpop alike and there is definitely something for many fans of electronic music. For anyone who appreciates beauty in their music, please check Seabound's Beyond Flatline out.