#somesurprises

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

somesurprises :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview

I've been a fan of Seattle's somesurprises ever since I heard their tape on the estimable Eiderdown label back in 2017-ish. The band's latest, Perseids, is the record that should make everyone a fan.

Led by songwriter/guitarist Natasha El-Sergany, somesurprises really knocked it out of the park with this one. It's a collection that'll remind you of many of your favorite artists (Stereolab, Yo La Tengo, Grouper, the Mazzy Star/Opal axis, etc) but never bows entirely to those influences. There's a strong point of view and thoughtful craft to every moment here. Check Perseids out, you're going to like it.

And also check out my Q&A with Natasha, which is up on Aquarium Drunkard right now! It's a good time. somesurprises is going on tour very soon, and I urge you to go see the band play! I'll be at the Denver show ... see you there?!

[musicmakesyousmart]

somesurprises - Alt

Doom Trip

2018

[bestreasonstowriterecordreviews]

somesurprises Serious Dreams (Eiderdown - 2017)

Anyone who gushed over the Frightening Lights long player on bruits direct disques will probably need to catch their breathe during this new Natsha El-Serghany cut from her forthcoming cassette. Pushing air around the room like dark clouds of cotton candy. 

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

somesurprises

I’ve been digging somesurprises’ dreamy/drone-y sound for a little while now -- and the band (led by Natasha El-Sergany) has finally gotten around to releasing a full length album in late 2019. It does not disappoint. El-Sergany’s reverberant vocals take center stage over a powerful full band sound -- definitely some Grouper in there, definitely some Mazzy Star-ish moments, maybe a sprinkling of Stereolab. But somesurprises is nothing if not its own thing, with plenty of ambitious/unexpected moves that may, er, surprise you! A very good thing. I also like that they’re willing to stretch out a bit too — “Cherry Sunshine,” the album’s closer is a motorik-pop jam that grooves magnificently for more than eight minutes. 

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

somesurprises - Alt

Some of you may have been hipped to Natasha El-Sergany’s somesurprises project via last year’s excellent Eiderdown cassette. She’s back now with a totally killer three-song EP via Doom Trip Records. This one is more of a full-band affair. The opening “Low On Sleep” is a beauty, with slo-mo vocals, jangling guitar and spacey atmospherics all drifting over a steady pulse. It makes me think: what if Grouper’s Liz Harris and Spiritualized’s Jason Pierce collaborated? Then we’ve got two excellent instrumentals — the dreamy underwater groove of “Paolo and Francesca” and the motorik reverie of “Alt,” which blazes for a full nine minutes. Go get it! 

[natlbag]

Somesurprises live at Betalevel Los Angeles — 24 August 2017

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

somesurprises - Year Without Spring / V. Vecker - Heavy Gestures

A little over a year after their awesome Perseids LP, Seattle's somesurprises is back with a short-but-very-sweet digital EP, with proceeds going to Super Familia King County, a local mutual aid group. Perseids was a relatively revved-up, full-band affair; the drum-less Year Without Spring leans towards the more ethereal side of their sound, with Natasha El-Sergany's vocals floating over a dreamy wash of mellotron and guitar. Just about 10 minutes of music, but worthy of endless replays. (And hey, my interview with Natasha from 2024 is still over on Aquarium Drunkard ...)

Meanwhile, somesurprises guitarist Josh Medina has revived the Obscure & Terrible label with Kole Galbraith to release Vancouver BC-based V. Vecker's excellent Heavy Gestures, a collection of moody and beautiful ambient pieces that encourage (and reward) deep listening a la Pauline Oliveros. The longer Vecker goes, the more hypnotic it gets — by the time you get to the end of the almost 16-minute "Grains of Sorrow," you'll be fully transformed.

[mon-nid]