sea magnet - call you liar

Sea Magnet

Call You Liar
self-released; 2013

3.8 out of 5

By Sean Dennison

Call you Liar by Sea Magnet is the final product of three music students, recorded in Tel Aviv, Israel and mastered in Bristol, UK. It sounds like jazzy pop infused with lots and lots of electronic touches. Sometimes the music reminds me of Animal Collective, sometimes of Radiohead but most of the time the music is its own thing.

"Justice by the Coin" opens up with circulating synths and much more tame guitar arrangements before percussion arrives to turn the song into a springy pop anthem. The song is an excellent introduction to the sound of Call you Liar in that it prepares the listener for the sorts of sounds they'll encounter throughout the rest of the album, such as those jubilant synthesizers, as well as the mood. Sea Magnet seems perpetually peppy, even when they're saying things like this: "Why do we never listen / so we can say we didn't know." It its way too close to home.

Still, Sea Magnet likes keeping things fresh. "All Is Clean" features some nice overlapping vocal harmonies and uses far more erratic tempos and rhythms than previously introduced. "Ne" is an interesting blend of New Age pop and skittish electronica, with prolonged hums acting as the walking ground with sharp, quick beats. Actually, typing it out, the beats are my favorite element of this music. They hit hard and fast, truncating their own patterns to the point where it can almost appear dissonant. But Sea Magnet reels it back fairly quickly; "Common Sense" is an excellent example of this, a big band-like affair with little 8-bit symphonies channeling soot suit sensibilities. And then there are the relaxed cuts like "Call you Liar" which uses primarily an acoustic guitar.

Sea Magnet should be commended for their first effort. The musicians have a keen eye for pop structure and timing. None of the songs outstay their welcome (MAYBE "The Last Laugh Ever") and the melodies for each are immediately apparent. Interesting vocals and highly intriguing compositions should mean this project will have legs for some time to come.

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