R.E. Seraphin "Swingshift" Cassette
R.E. Seraphin "Swingshift" Cassette
Couldn't load pickup availability
With the onset of COVID lockdowns, Seraphin rapidly changed his approach to recording, tracking all basics on his iPhone and working with his collaborators via share networks. Rather than feeling constricted by the process, he found a new freedom. “Now, I could record whatever I wanted in my bedroom and send it to whoever I wanted, free of any intraband politics,” he says. “Recording something as I’m writing it has an immediacy that really works for me.” The resultant EP A Room Forever found wide acclaim in the online blog world, firmly establishing Seraphin as a dynamic, multifaceted new voice in independent music.
Seraphin returned to his room and trusty phone last spring to craft his most ambitious work yet in Swingshift. Densely layered, the EP’s sheen brings to mind The Replacements gone psychedelic, Cheap Trick gone to Mars, Cleaners from Venus if they bothered to mix their records. Looking to move on from the muted earth tones dominating much underground music today, he goaded producer Bullimore into piling on the synths, and guitarists Cusumano and Kelley into some surprising guitar acrobatics. “To get away from that sound,” explains R.E., “I pushed for Journey-style solos – a year ago, I would have never even allowed anything like that!” Inspired this round by Ultra Vivid Scene, Miracle Legion and current power-pop maverick Young Guv, Seraphin’s songwriting is delightfully economic, each tune briefly introducing a new sonic world and setting before moving onto the next.
“My songs tend to explore a more visceral perspective,” says R.E., “rather than any abstract declaration of love.” Opener “Playing House” explores “a 21st century Bonnie-and-Clyde scenario,” says Seraphin, “imagining starting a new life with someone that way.” Over a driving swagger that recalls original home recording heroes Shoes, he croons, “Skipped town with half a tank, got six bucks, baby in the bank/Red dog and blue light, we don’t sleep but we never fight.” “Stuck in Reno,” co-written with Flowertown’s Mikey Ramos, is a countrified travelogue that continues the on-the-road vibes – “I know all the flowers bloom/My heart is just high on fumes,” he and vocalist Hannah Kelley harmonize on the chorus. Laced with swirling synths and Petty-esque 12-string guitar, “Virtue of Being Wrong” explores a moment of tension between lovers – “They talk amongst themselves/their eyes burn like hell,” Seraphin and Yea-Ming Chen sing in unison.
Combining classic hooks, an adventurous sonic palette with an ever-distinctive voice, R.E. Seraphin’s Swingshift is yet another surprising turn for this emerging talent.
Shipping, Returns & Cancellations
Shipping, Returns & Cancellations
SHIPPING:
We ship Monday through Friday. Orders typically ship within 24-72 hours. Tracking is sent to the email you provide at check out and may take a few days to become active.
Any items ordered with Pre-Orders will be held until they can all ship together. If you need in stock items faster please order them seperately.
RETURNS:
Returns are only accepted on damaged or defective items. Return requests must be made within 7 days of delivery. Please save the original packaging.
If you own a Crosley, Victrola or any other lower end turntable that has no ability to adjust the weight of the tone arm and are experiencing skipping on a new record please try the "Penny Trick". Simply place a penny on the top of the cartidge and it should provide enough weight to resolve your issues. While a great entry to the world of vinyl we do recommend upgrading to a turntable with a tone arm that can be adjusted as this issue will randomly occur. We do not take returns in these cases.
Resellers: If you are buying from us for resale we honestly don't mind. However, please don't panic if something you bought suddenly isn't flipable for more money and then try to return stuff to us because you feel like you made a bad investment choice. Despite our outsized reputation we're a small shop, not amazon. Absorbing these costs adds up on places like ours. Plus a little patience always tends to pay off.
CANCELLATIONS:
Due to an increasing number of payment processors no longer returning transaction fees to sellers on cancelled orders and rising labor costs any orders or pre-orders that need to be cancelled before shipment will be assessed a 5% cancellation/restocking fee on the order total including shipping and any other taxes or fees associated with the order.
Thank you for your understanding.
Share
-
All Domestic orders over $75 ship for free!
Free shipping threshold does not include sales tax.