22 Dec 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

The Seizure Police - EP Review: Volume 1

19 Oct 2022 // A review by Nicholas Clark
When I say that this release is perfect for meditation I intend it as a compliment. It’s difficult to make music this laid back, this thoroughly reliant on delay; this austere.

The first track, Pre-Show, I assumed was perhaps a preamble to a more complex electronic song to come. Weaving in and out of frequencies, a tiny key stab lulls us to a slow BPM, and I am surprised that five minutes has passed when the song ends. Although the song is simple, there are layers of percussion, keys, what sounds like a wooden block, all intermingling for attention. Dub, ambient and minimal electronic music all seem to have influenced The Seizure Police’s vision of how an EP should be introduced.

Rise begins with a NASA vocal sample (included for review is a version of the song without this sample) which brings associations of space travel, strengthened by the inclusion of artwork from the Hubble Telescope of distant galaxies. A beat never fully develops, and I am glad of it. It is an interesting track that simply exists, beautifully outlying a fractured chord, then breaks down on itself like a collapsed star.

The third track E Scape begins a little differently, perhaps more cinematically. A nostalgic and melodramatic chord joins a complex beat, complete with large snare hits and snappy high hats. The track unfolds, and when the percussion leaves, the listener can really hear the complexity of the harmony that has begun to sound like a music-box. There is a charming element here, but the association isn’t space travel but rather memory and nostalgia. I could be wrong, but the subjective nature of instrumental music is both its advantage and disadvantage... We seem at this point to be looking backward.

The final track, the interestingly titled Arrival features some strongly phased samples and a vocal snippet from a child speaking. Descending frequencies taken from what sounds like a bell take us into strange waters indeed. Altogether, it's hard to know whether this is a reference to Stanley Kubrick’s universe baby from ‘Space Odyssey 2001’ or not, but the phasing bells are truly dis-concerting. Again, the passing of time seems to be a prominent feature.

Perhaps it's an odd way to end this space related trip, but after listening through again, I can see the title as reference to waking again from deep meditation. After listening once more with eyes closed, from end to end, I can say now that the order of the songs on this release is probably for the best, as I can’t see Arrival fitting anywhere else but last.

Overall, the EP is satisfying in its simplicity. There are layers there to be discovered that don’t immediately come to the foreground and can be discovered on repeat listens. New Zealand’s Pitch Black may have been an influence on the sound, as well as ambient techno pioneers The Orb. What is impressive here is what is left out. Half the tracks are without a beat, and so the melodies wander but not aimlessly.

Inspiring stuff, worthy of a meditation.

Rating: ( 4 / 5 )
 

About The Seizure Police

Another side of Matthew P Schöbs.
British born 20 odd year resident of New Zealand.
Founding member of BareBones and Cabaret & The Flaming Bridges, half of electronic duo Screw-Jack and once know as Matt Yearbook.

Music & Visuals are a great way to create something new. I use lots of open source movies and vintage home movies for my videos and I use life, meditation & medication for my music.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for The Seizure Police

Releases

The Seizure Police Volume 1
Year: 2022
Type: EP

Other Reviews By Nicholas Clark

Search For Yeti - Album Review: Dark So Soon
28 Nov 2024 // by Nicholas Clark
Search for Yeti’s first full length album Dark So Soon offers a rich banquet of genres and melodies. The record oscillates between predicting a future filled with either dread or hope, while the band either softly establishes a tender ambience or plays catchy power pop.
Read More...
DarkWater - Album Review: Turning Point
13 Nov 2024 // by Nicholas Clark
Turning Point is a complex, dynamic album that takes the listener on an intense ride. There are mysterious, fragile, powerful and gritty moments to discover on this ten-track offering that sounds both balanced and refined.
Read More...
Job Site - EP Review: The New Zealand Experience
15 Oct 2024 // by Nicholas Clark
Emerging from the Waikato, high energy punk band Job Site showcases their special blend of comedic music on their latest offering, the 4 track The New Zealand Experience EP. The band plays fast and heavy throughout the recording, with rhythms that range from oi-punk, thrash music and even a little 2000’s indie rock.
Read More...
Festival Review: Great Sounds Great Review 2 @ Wellington - 31/08/2024
03 Sep 2024 // by Nicholas Clark
Six iconic venues. Twenty eight acts.
Read More...
Voodoo Bloo - Album Review: Dead-end Rodeo
28 Aug 2024 // by Nicholas Clark
Rodeos, at least in this country, aren’t perceived as sport nowadays. If the term is used at all in New Zealand it usually refers to a metaphor for an intense struggle to survive or to conquer the unconquerable, if but for fleeting moment.
Read More...
Gig Review: Bad Schematics @ Moon, Wellington - 26/07/2024
27 Jul 2024 // by Nicholas Clark
Fresh from picking up numerous awards in the recent National Battle of the Bands competition, Bad Schematics have embarked on a North Island tour including Tauranga, Auckland and their hometown Palmerston North, to promote their newest album,C O L L I D E. Tonight, along with winners of the competition for this year, Adoneye, finalists Donal and The Bucks and last year’s second place winners, Dave and the Dirty Humans, Bad Schematics hit Wellington’s favourite underground alternative music venue and pizzeria, Moon.
Read More...
Gig Review: Floyd Marsden @ Valhalla, Wellington - 18/07/2024
19 Jul 2024 // by Nicholas Clark
Although technically a sad affair, (as it was to be final of Floyd Marsden’s string of local shows promoting her album The Disco Lizards), the atmosphere in Valhalla was uncharacteristically filled with retro vibes but the usual friendly faces. In support for this show was Adult Friends, spearheaded by vocalist/guitarist Jackson Kidd who was also the producer of The Disco Lizards.
Read More...
SuperMild - EP Review: SuperMild
11 Jun 2024 // by Nicholas Clark
SuperMild is a busy band playing lots of venues and entertaining crowds with their blend of reggae tinged psychedelic rock. Their debut, self-titled four song EP is out now, and it spans the many sounds the band can summon with just three members.
Read More...
View All Articles By Nicholas Clark

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem