Over the last few years, Montreal has developed a reputation for a rather vital, intriguing and diverse electronic music scene as acts such as Grimes, BRAIDS, Majical Cloudz, Jef Barbara and others. Seoul, comprised of the trio of childhood friends Nigel Ward and Julian Flavin and art student Dexter Garcia, will likely add to a growing list of artists from Montreal that have caught the attention of the blogosphere. 

“The Line” one of the first singles off the trio’s soon-to-be released full-length effort, I Became A Shade is an icily foreboding and hypnotic track comprised of angular synth stabs, swirling and undulating electronics, skittering percussion and hot flashes of cymbals paired with plaintive vocals that sonically and thematically bears a resemblance to Beacon and I Love You It’s Cool-era Bear in Heaven, as the song deals with the difficulty of connecting emotionally and physically with others, as well as ourselves, and the difficulties of moving past a profound loss or a profound disappointment. The song evokes the lingering ghosts, neuroses and heartaches of human life, haunting us at our most vulnerable and weakest – when we’re alone and at our most desperate. However, the album’s latest single “Real June” may arguably be the warmest, most summery track on the Canadian trio’s debut effort, as the song consists of swirling, atmospheric electronics, shimmering guitars, sinuous bass and ethereal vocals and harmonies; in some way, the track subtly nods towards psychedelia in a way that bears an uncanny resemblance to In Ghost Colors-era Cut Copy. And although remarkably breezy, the song at its very core reveals a careful attention to craft – the hooks manage to possess an infectious and arena-friendly/large club-friendly quality.