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Seabound
Double-Crosser

Metropolis Records / Dependent Records

Posted: Friday, March 16, 2007
By: Damon Wilson

Frank Spinath, lyricist and vocalist for Seabound, continues to delve into the emotional and thought provoking world from which the band has drawn on from its inception. On Double-Crosser, he explores the many poignant facets of relationships, from whispered treachery to boisterous joy. In kind, Martin Vorbrodt's musical compositions provide more than just mere canvas for the lyrics. He provides fully realized spaces from which each song is given the opportunity to live.

On "The Promise," Frank sings the dialogue between two lovers to simple yet eloquent effect. Not satisfied to simply tell the story from one perspective, he switches from third person to first person then separate characters. As these changes occur, the song switches from a sentiment of questioning and an atmosphere of foreboding to that of celebration, liberation, and perhaps recovery. It's these simple yet dramatic variations in both lyric and composition that give Seabound a rare richness. On "Scorch the Ground," all the elements that have become Seabound's signature are present. Given that the two work separately on each song, it's a pleasure to hear how their labor is seamlessly married. Like most Seabound music, it is not in its complexity that one finds pleasure. It is in the layering, the details, the feel, and the overall ease in which Martin's music seems to effectively yet effortless flow. "Every Last Grain" is a pleasant surprise in the way of a meditative instrumental. It has this feel, this promise, that at any moment something bigger will occur. All of which give it a soothing but not wholly peaceful quality. Lastly, while "Breath" may not be the standout track in the way "Scorch the Ground," "Traitor," or "The Promise" are it stands as an excellent example of how well these two artists complement each other. As the lush atmosphere that has been slowly laid out changes to almost violent, it's the balance between all the components that make the song so fully realized.

With interest we will be watching what occurs with Seabound as their label Dependent Records has announced it will soon close its doors due to continued frustration caused by the overwhelming popularity of P2P networks. A point made only more relevant by the fact that, according to Dependent, the ratio between illegal downloads of Double-Crosser and legitimate purchases is in the area of four to one. For now, fans can enjoy one of that label's great bands.