TheEliteExtremophile
These three songs work perfectly together, and the incorporation of trumpets and strings adds a dimension of richness rarely heard in math rock.
3.1 is a continuation of the concept album of "3" in the way that the third album explored the CMYK relationship, summing Cyan, Magenta and Yellow, where 3.1 focuses on luminance and the relationship of light within the colour spectrum. Imperfect Black closes 3 - and Absolute Black picks up right where it left off with it’s immediate drop and wall of sound, shifting through various modes, until the subtle key and tempo changes in the outro - starting the luminance journey.
Front man and multi instrumentalist Simeon Bartholomew spoke about the thought process behind the new single. "Translucence is all about the passage between" he said. "[It begins] lost and struggling to find its way out of the absolute black, until we find our feet towards the big middle section of that song - then leading into pure Clarity - the 7/4 banger that’s all about seeing this one motif through right to end - almost heading 'towards the light' with that giant mess it finishes on."
To compliment Translucence, the track will drop with its gorgeous music video. The band paired up with contemporary dancer Angela Hamilton, known for her award-winning Opus, to choreograph and dance to the music following the translucence journey from the first song on the EP, Absolute Black, to the final track, Clarity.
3.1 is SEIMS' fourth musical instalment and was recorded and mixed by Tim Carr (Matt Corby, We Lost The Sea) at One Flight Up Studios and at Harry's Sunbeam and mastered by Jeff Lipton and Maria Rice at Peerless Mastering (Battles, Lightning Bolt, City & Colour).
Initially conceived as a one-man, studio project when Bartholomew released its debut, self-titled album in 2012, the band expanded into a ferocious live act for the follow up record, II in 2015. Today, SEIMS stands as a full force onslaught with some of Sydney’s most talented musicians.
The band has completed their first tour of Japan playing Bahamafest along the way and have supported the likes of Tortoise, Regurgitator, Jean Jean, Marmalade Butcher and We Lost The Sea as well as being seasoned Progfest players.
credits
released March 29, 2019
Recorded at One Flight Up Studios, Sydney, NSW
Additional recording at Harry's Sunbeam, Sydney, NSW
Produced by Simeon Bartholomew
Engineered + mixed by Tim Carr
Mastered by Jeff Lipton at Peerless Mastering, Boston, MA
Assistant Mastering Engineer - Maria Rice
Released by Bird’s Robe Records + Art As Catharsis Records
Artwork "Found Top of a Paint Can" by James Lieutenant
Music composed by Simeon Bartholomew
Drums arranged by Chris Allison
Performed by
Simeon Bartholomew - bass, guitar, piano, synth, production
Chris Allison - drums
Natalya Bing - violin
Monique Mezzatesta - violin + viola
Peter Hollo - cello
Paul Murchison - trumpet
Jochen Gutsch - trumpet
Sorcha Albuquerque - guitar solo (Clarity)
An incredibly huge thanks to absolutely everybody who made this record possible.