Recently, we covered “Sno Sna” and “22,” debut and second albums by Seine, an outstanding Croatian indie trio you should unquestionably put on your music radar. Today, we’re talking about “Naizust,” their third effort released in 2022 by Moonlee Records. As usual, every next album delivers something new to the table and that’s the case with this particular material as well. Consisting of nine excellent compositions, “Naizust” continuously rotates between minimalistic and more intricate sonic maneuvers, decorated with profoundly confident vocal performance. For those unfamiliar with this band, Seine explores many different but complementary music genres. They use indie as a primary sonic direction, but you’ll notice some explorations into trip-hop, experimental, glitch, etc. It’s needless to say all these styles suit them well, as bands who navigate various music genres always know what they’re doing.
Seine decided on a slightly more minimalist approach to this material. Tracks like “Peripetija” and “Riječ” are perfect examples of indie meeting trip-hop aesthetics, entirely performed in a classic Seine style. With an emphasis on wisely constructed lyric content and whispery but high-pitched vocal performance, these two tracks showcase catchy synths and deconstructed beats, garnered with calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal ambiances. The same goes for tracks like “Zakaj,” a perfect example of modern glitch/trip-hop sound, or “Sličnost,” an immensely minimal indie track where the nearly cathartic keys shape a magnificent atmosphere. “Opaljenje” and “Automatsko Pisanje 1” offer even more stripped-down trip-hop maneuvers, once again emphasized with the exceptional vocal performance. The cleverly assembled beats, breaks, and other rhythmic acrobatics play a significant role in this sonic equation, as they dictate groove and tempo while keeping the remainder of the instrumentations in line.
On the other hand, there are a couple of tracks that are more straightforward indie masterpieces, but written, composed, arranged, recorded, and produced in a recognizable Seine manner. “Malolije” is undoubtedly one of the highlights here, with the steady electronic beats propelling the orchestrations to new heights while the vocals shape a melodic curtain. In the meantime, generous servings of mellow, delicate, beautiful keys offer a backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. The song gradually becomes even more complex, with more vocal, sonic, and rhythmic acrobatics included. “Automatsko Pisanje 2” is a logical continuation of the first partition, and this particular composition introduces more intricate drumming maneuvers, enhanced with eerie synths and subtle low-ends. The layers of whispery vocals make this track even more interesting, as they add more depth and complexity to an already intricate ambiance. It’s also good to mention that the crescendo is one of the heaviest moments on this album, paying homage to some instrumentations hearable on their previous recordings. The album closes with “Situacija,” a straightforward indie rock song where the guitars and marvelous rhythmic patterns reign supreme. As usual, vocals are the centerpiece of this number, commanding the attention and guiding the listening apparatus from scratch to finish. It’s a perfect closure of such a marvelous full-length album.
The Seine evolved through the years and “Naizust” is a perfect example of how indie music can still sound fresh, innovative, and unique. Their experimentations with so many different but complementary styles make this material even most interesting while the recognizable vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuvers nod to their earlier recordings. “Naizust” is the perfect indie/trip-hop album you need in your record collection. Head to their Bandcamp page or Moonlee Records website for more information about ordering this gem.
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