Demo Press

Seiche

Jackpot Records, 2019

http://warpdriveprod.com/seiche.htm

REVIEW BY: Tom Haugen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 03/27/2020

There's plenty of rare records out there, and this 1981 album from Chicago's Seiche – their one and only – is certainly at the top of that list with an original pressing of just 50 copies. Once again, Jackpot Records finds a rare gem and resurrects it. And of course, they offer us bonus and archived materials and source from the original masters.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

“In The Calm Of Your Eye” starts the listen gentle and almost meditative before a darker landscape of soft vocals and precise instrumentation gradually builds into a psychedelic frenzy of acrobatic drumming and manic guitar work. This intensity then continues to the hard-hitting yet rhythmic “Evidently Me,” which also exits with a fiery display of propulsive energy. Side A ends with “Islands,” which is a rumbling and ominous journey of dynamic instrumentation amid some throwback hard rock ideas that really that even retreats to balladry later on.

Side B leads with “Dissonant Toys,” where a gentle opening leads into raw yet precise rocker, while “The Maze” flows with detailed musicianship that's vocal-less but says much in its meticulous execution of prog and psych rock.

The end of the original album offers “Good Mourning,” where the band get close to folk rock before getting comfortable in their exploratory, progressive formula. The bonus track that is included with a download code, “Larks' Tongues In Aspic Part II,” finishes off the reissue with gritty riffs and a primitive recording. Though the sound quality isn't as pristine as today's technology, it does a great job of capturing the band's rare chemistry.

Amazingly, Seiche was just out of high school when Demo Press was recorded live in two sessions. Sadly, the trio only lasted a couple of years before disbanding. It's a damn shame, too, because as evidenced by this shockingly skilled record, there was much potential to be found in Seiche.

Rating: B+

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