Chris Daly owns at least four Traci Lords albums.
Look, I’ll be honest, I was initially kind of disappointed when I learned I was going to review the new Seekae album and not the new Seka album. Let’s be honest, it’s not every day that a 70s/80s porn icon makes a beat album. Apparently, it’s not any day at all, but what can you do? Fortunately, you don’t have to be into DVDA to recognize Seekae’s latest, +Dome, for the total and complete beast it is. I’m not saying it wouldn’t hurt, but there you have it. Being into +Dome, that is. DVDA, I imagine, would split you like a Christmas goose, but we’re clearly digressing here.
With personal accolades coming from Daddy Kev and the Alpha Pup camp, I shouldn’t have been surprised that the Sydney, Australia-based trio were this good. Riding an ambient, laid back groove throughout the entire album, it’s still hard to classify this music much beyond “instrumental,” “beat,” and “damned good.” Kicking off with a near Eddie Hazel guitar groove on the funkalicious “Go,” the rest of the album is an exercise in damn near every form of EDM imaginable, with an obvious focus on IDM.
Members George Nicholas, John Hassell and Alex Cameron clearly are fans of chillwave (“3,” “Reset Head”), but go far beyond that genre. “Yodal” is a lesson in drum programming done right, and “Two” shows the trio’s ability to turn on a dime, transforming an atmospheric piece into a spooky, almost dance floor jam before it’s all over. Closer “You’ll” sounds like Baths at his most intimate and emotive. For my earholes, however, the best beat here is “Blood Bank,” a witchy, mellow groove with chopped vocal snippets perfect for the chillout tent.
So what takes this merry band of beatheads to the next level? I’m going to chalk it up to the boys blending live instrumentation and electronic experimentation with samples collected over two years of performing, touring and writing. When in doubt, kids, follow the ones with the deepest, craziest crates. You’ll seldom be disappointed.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe I need to dust off my copy of Blond Heat. If Dorothea Patton makes another comeback anytime soon, I want to be ready.
Download:
MP3: Seekae-“Sir”
Seekae – Blood Bank by Machining
