The Tumbled Sea - Melody/Summer
Record Label: Future Recordings
Release Date: May 5, 2009
There are two things The Tumbled Sea have a prerogative to accompanying: falling asleep and immersed meditation, but there are a million ways to describe why. On Melody/Summer, the one man project produces 11 tracks of the most angelic musical poems currently being promoted by a label. The end product is an ambient creation that will likely be the most delicate thing anyone will hear all year, though for many, its calming presence and placating influence will play a role in relaxing troubled minds for a lifetime.
It doesn't take an expert critic to figure out Melody/Summer is beautiful. The album is always ivory-driven (in fact, the piano is the only instrument to even make an appearance, save for a few drone effects in "summer ii" or "//" and maybe some minor string play here and there), and always romantically slow; one motif every 5 seconds sounds about right, though the commercial-ready "summer v" and follow-up "summer iii" are much more driving and quick.
Everything is airy and everything is accessible. The dominant use of piano doesn't cave in to the need to "go classical" and you'll find no hint of musically awkward chord progressions. It's only what's logically gorgeous. Nothing more, nothing less.
You will find little pressure to interpret what the music could possibly represent, as it runs just fine as music for relaxation, but several numbers do feel like a storyline could easily be imposed because they're so rich and so poignant. The esoterically dubbed "脴" could be a soldier returning home only to find his village desolated; "melody iv" could be the soundtrack to discouragement, and "summer ii" sounds like the audible manifestation of "finding inner peace." The point is, there is not a nook or cranny of the album that is not theater-ready.
It's projects like The Tumbled Sea that remind you of why you even bother listening to instrumental music; no doubt, people listen to the super-genre for many reasons, but more often than not, beauty is the main reason. If Melody/Summer isn't beautiful enough for your craving, nothing is and nothing can be. For those who could find satisfaction here, don't wait any longer. This album will absolutely haunt you.
There is a new band on this label named Sunlight Ascending which is amazing...been trying to get them reviewed here. Same place you find Tumbled Sea you will find SA...though much different in scope to Tumbled Sea...Sunlight Ascending still comes from that ambient/new progressive family. Please check them out. Tumbled Sea is very awesome by the way!!! Great to see them reviewed here!
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