New York – Montreal ambient pop trio Seoul played a show at Elvis Guesthouse on June 24th, celebrating the release of their debut LP I Become A Shade, out now on Grand Jury. Band members Julian Flavin, Dexter Garcia and Nigel Ward have been playing music together since 2010, culminating in this rich debut towing the line between melancholy and dreamy that has provided a resonating perspective on the mundanity of urban life and the lack of fulfillment felt by many in the modern era. (Keep an eye out for Best New Band’s pre-gig interview with the band, coming soon).
Unlike many electronic outfits that rely on their laptops, the trio brought a completely instrumental element to their live performance and demonstrated their technical capabilities in orchestrating their sometimes moody, sometimes soaring and melodic sound. Originally booked to play a completely different venue, the last minute change in location meant the band was placed on top of a couple of sonically non-corresponding opening acts more indie rock than melodic pop, but despite this uneven bill still managed to draw a wholeheartedly enthusiastic and diverse spectrum of people eager to watch the band perform.
The lack of an actual stage at Elvis Guesthouse always brings about an almost unparalleled intimacy with the virtually nonexistent barriers between performers and audience, something that served well the vulnerable intricacies of Seoul’s music. The band’s years of writing and recording music together has paid off considering the ease with which they appeared totally comfortable and in control of both their vocals and instrumentals, weaving in and out of different sonic layers. Despite the short set, which in its brevity didn’t do justice to the atmospheric and lingering quality of I Become A Shade, each individual track (including a particularly glittering rendition of single “Stay With Us”) forged an enduring and emotive viewpoint. Although emphasis has been placed on the brooding ruminations that are interspersed on the LP, the band brought a soft-spoken and uplifting joy to each piece that could be seen to reflect the little blips of undefined happiness that crop up in everyday life and seem touched upon in every track.
This effective approach to their music so well received, that after playing their last song, fervent calls for an encore displayed the real fan base the band has deservingly built up over the past few years. With the increase in prominence of indie electronica outfits in recent times, it’s refreshing to see a group perform live without an over-reliance on visuals or distractions. Instead, Seoul wove together a haunting soundtrack that offered something bigger than itself, yet reminded the listener that feeling a bit alone, like music, is a universally identifiable thing that brings us all together. Displaying a balance of both a serious understanding of the varying elements of electronic and popular sound with a knack for storytelling that remains universally relatable, it’s evident the band’s precise vision and poise has already created a simple yet inarguably insightful presentation.
You can catch Seoul on tour in the US this autumn, with Canadian dates to be announced shortly.
Keep up with Seoul via their Facebook and Twitter pages.
Seoul live by Ruby Hoffman
Ruby Hoffman
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