R.E. Seraphin to release "A Room Forever E.P." on vinyl via Mt.St.Mtn.

>> Quickly following the release of his highly regarded debut LP Tiny Shapes, Ray Seraphin is back under his R.E. Seraphin moniker to release the six song A Room Forever E.P. on vinyl via Mt.St.Mtn. (with a cassette version available again on Paisley Shirt Records).

Release date: 9/30/20

The last EP from R.E. Seraphin was steeped in a vaseline-lensed power pop, but on his follow-up, Seraphin is moving towards the crossroads of janglepop and indie pop that culls moves from The Field Mice, Even As We Speak, and all manner of 80’s twee pop confections. The track is cut with a dreaminess that’s less easy to pin down. For contemporary comparisons, Seraphin is running through the same filters that Cory Cunningham’s Business of Dreams seems to find familiar, and both bands share a lot of time among the soft pink clouds of daybreak, working their way through the mists. “Leave Me in the Tide” is pinned to a cracking drum machine, and finds its charm in not letting the jangle become the dominant force, letting the guitar warp in the sun just a bit as it wriggles its way through the song. The last EP showed a lot of promise and  A Room Forever makes good on it in short order.” - Raven Sings The Blues

“This one is a set of six numbers that even seem even sharper than those on Tiny Shapes.  "Clock Without Hands" offers up chiming alt-rock that recalls early R.E.M., The Church, and even Wire Train. It's a great cut, and one of many fine ones here. Elsewhere, "Lost in Space" is nicely modulated between moody verses, and a ringing chorus. If the songs on Tiny Shapes seemed lo-fi in the way that Elf Power, Apples in Stereo, and GBV were lo-fi, those on A Room Forever seem a tiny bit sharper, and more focused. Still, any piece of either is fantastic, and highly recommended, so don't let my nerdy dissection of this indie-pop rob it of any of its riches at all.” - A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed

“Ray returns with a 6-song digital EP, recorded at home with some long-distance collaborators. His previous cassette, mentioned in FOAP #11, was reissued on vinyl by Mt St Mt, but I am already more into the new stuff. Tiny Shapes had a late 70’s Shoes/Cars core, this one is more blurred, harder to place. It has elements of 90’s indie (the gauzy Luna cover is a tip-off) and Velvet Crush, while ”Leave Me in the Tide” could be The Plimsouls as recorded in the Captured Tracks era. Ray’s breathy voice really suits these more intimate sounding recordings. “Pillar of Shame” almost gets into Verve territory. Excited to hear what’s next.” - Glenn Donaldson, Freeform Freakout

 
Mark Kaiser