Irish artist Sean MacLeod blends antiquity and modern tech on “I’ve Seen You Around.” Merging ancient lyre plucks with a hypnotic indie-pop pulse, the track utilizes the Pythagorean tuning system to achieve pure, serene tones. It is a blissfully meditative preview of his upcoming experimental album, We Don’t See What that We Don’t See, out this August.
The elegant, plucky charm of the lyre builds quickly into MacLeod’s expressive vocal presence, exuding a title-bearing resonance amidst steady percussion. Caressing, harmonizing vocal layers emit “I’ve seen you around” with especially hypnotic allure as the first minute comes to a close, punctuated by twinkling keys that lend an effervescent charm to the tonal mix. The psychedelic, lulling central refrain injects seamlessly throughout, while the incorporation of various sounds — both a bass-heavy pulse and then a dialtone-like effect around 01:30 — add with artful cohesion.
Much of the track’s central half is a blissfully meditative array of “I’ve seen you around” vocal lushness, glistening keys, and balmy rhythmic appeal. The calming, serene feel is certainly due in part to the use of the Pythagorean tuning system, and also MacLeod’s own talents in constructing riveting soundscapes and easy-going melodic flows, apparent here and also past singles like “I Know Not” and “Cool Charisma.” “I’ve Seen You Around” delights in its enveloping atmosphere and gradually expansive satiation.
—
This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
