Highland Park based band Seasons have been playing throughout LA at a relentless pace the last few years. In that time they have released several season themed EP’s that have clear progressions of musical development. This progression has seen ultimate fruition with the release of ‘Autumn.’
The first sounds you hear on the opening track “Monday Night” are those of a programmed drum beat that gives way to live drums. The song establishes the kind of joyous mood that you feel at a great house party or concert. Much like a good gig or house party, the song changes it up with its timing. “We are already home”, croons singer Nik Garcia as the song makes its final push to its end. Anyone who has seen Seasons live knows how at home they are onstage together.
The pop sheen of their music kicks up a notch with the second track “These United States.” The guitars shimmer brightly as they mingle with the violin parts. The addition of violin player Kaitlin Wolfberg last year has made the biggest difference in their sound. The violin ties together the musical elements of Seasons in a way that has elevated them to a new plane in their writing and arrangements.
The middle track of the EP “You Are” starts with a sonic caress as you hear the words “you are” repeated quietly in the mix as they fade in and are pushed to the front as the band enters. Of the five songs on “Autumn” this is the one that comes the closest to being a ballad. This is the type of song that makes you want to grab the stranger next to you at a show and start dancing. The infectiousness of Season’s pop sensibility laces every song in a way that causes them to sound familiar but new. The melodies that emanate from their music grab you and embed themselves in your mind.
The stuttering programed rhythm that begins “The Number of the Beat” is marked by alternating cymbal and violin accents trading off. Right off the bat you hear that this song is going to veer into a territory that treads more darkly than the first three songs. For the first time on the EP you feel a sense of foreboding. The song hurtles forward as everything collides when singer Nik howls at you through the speakers.
Instead of going to a lighter tone after “Number of the Beat,” Seasons throw themselves into the crowning moment of “Autumn” with the song “Lazy Bones.” The darkness that crept into “Number of the Beat” displays itself in full force here. There is an emotional weight in this song that dwarfs everything around it. It conveys the same kind of feeling that one might have during a soul baring conversation with a friend. I am hesitant to say much more about this song. It truly leaves you feeling emotionally spent after listening to it. If heartache, disillusion and disappointment had a soundtrack, this would be on it. The depth of this song paints a clear picture of the talents of Seasons. “Lazy Bones” and “Number of the Beat” serve as a perfect balance to the first three songs. Real life is not full of endless joy. There is a darkness that comes into view from time to time and Seasons know it. Better than just knowing it, they express it in a genuine and compelling manner. “Autumn” is the sound of a band setting a higher standard for themselves creatively. It’s exciting to think about where they will go with their impending full-length debut.
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