This is not our first encounter with Rare Seed. We had the pleasure of reviewing their 2024 effort ‘Amor Fati (Silver Threads)’, a dynamic and evocative piece we described as “a quintessentially eclectic effort: nuanced and meaningful”. We stand by our words; the New Orleans-based outfit greatly enjoys operating on the fringe, or better, in the psychedelic continuum, oscillating between hazy, floaty gems and more solid, fuzzy offerings. In fact, Rare Seed have just released a long album, ‘Ethereal Enclave’, a body of work that also collects the aforementioned single.
Featuring eleven stunning gems, ‘Ethereal Enclave’ is decisively a rock record. Yet, it’s wrapped into a sense of wonder and limitlessness, perhaps stemming from the diverse musical roots of the group’s members. With influences ranging from funk to jazz – even spanning to hip-hop coolness – Rare Seed are able to offer an intensively cathartic album, an aural journey that will likely positively surprise any keen listeners out there.
Lyrically, ‘Ethereal Enclave’ feels nostalgic and deep, fully steeped in human consciousness and the many emotional battles that come with it. Overall, this is a record that deserves its time and attention. It needs to be digested and reflected upon. Fear not, the whole experience is still rather dreamy and packed with escapism – the uplifting kind. As Rare Seed explain: “It begs listeners to consider the battles that occur within our own hearts and minds, and to rise above the tired, old cycle.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Ethereal Enclave’ on Spotify:
