#seawinds

[fuchinobe]

Seawind (1976, CTI Records, CTI 5002)

[dustedmagazine]

Seawind of Battery — East Coast Cosmic Dreamscaper (WarHen)

Photo by Christoper Bruno

Seawind of Battery, the ambient guitar project of New Yorker Mike Horn, has always been a serene and unruffled enterprise. In a review of the debut cassette two years ago, I noted that “Melodies push forward shyly out of long, pensive drones, yet the mix feels light as air and unconflicted.”  Now, in the band’s first post-COVID album—and the first to include Jarrod Annis on lap steel—the pace has picked up, but the aura of calm remains. Even when the rhythms push the hardest, as on standout “New Moon,” long tones float like cirrus clouds above it all. This latest album is an engaging mix of drift and propulsion.

To hear the progression that Horn and Annis have made, you can start by comparing the two “Moon” tracks, coming at first and second position in the album sequence. “Blood Moon” emerges from a sea fog of long wavery sustained notes, the lap steel carrying a slow melody, every note proposed, considered, and allowed to linger. After a little while the other guitar—Horn, I gather—enters strumming an ambling rhythm. Even here, the song is in no hurry. It tarries here and there in the sunshine, a bubble of optimism rising out of its gentle cadence. “Blood Moon” is not so different from what came before it.

“New Moon,” however, edges away from ambience into something adjacent to space rock. It starts in a twinkling rustle of interstellar hisses and bleeps, then a staccato guitar rhythm intervenes. It is driving but tranquil and full of clarity. It divides the song into clear, legible measures, giving it a throughline and a sense of purpose, but also remains open ended; it could go on forever, it seems. Amid these ratatat contours, Annis executes fluid pedal steel flourishes—I picture lush vines pushing up a trellis here. A little bit of percussion adds urgency, twitching, shaking, and slapping hard on the twos and fours.  The point is that if “Blood Moon” is an oasis, “New Moon” is a journey. It moves. It strives. It aspires.

Country and folk themes run through East Coast Cosmic Dreamscaper, in the twanging lyricism of “Maze of Roses” and the boot-stomped four on the floor of quasi-title track “Dreamscaper.”  Yet these rustic influences are spectral, allusive, and never overwhelming. Think of a hoedown reel distilled to clear liquid and imbued with an inexorable sense of movement. In this new, more mobile iteration, Seawind of Battery may be caught in a daydream, but it is a dream with a plot and a beginning, middle and end. 

Jennifer Kelly

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

Emergency Group / Seawind of Battery / Zachary Cale + Robert Boston + JR Bohannon - Tubby's, Kingston, New York, May 16, 2023

Let's hang out at Tubby's for a little longer, shall we? I've never been, but judging by the shows the club books, it's an extremely cool spot. Last month, Island House Records hosted a little showcase situation featuring three excellent acts. Thanks to Kliked for taping!

First up, the always wonderful Zachary Cale, who plays a laid-back but quite elegant set with Robert Boston (keys) and J.R. Bohannon (pedal steel); Zach is a great singer-songwriter, of course, but he's also a great guitarist, and the mostly instrumental stuff he plays here bodes well for whatever he has up his sleeve next. The Neil Young cover is aces, too.

Next! Seawind of Battery offers up some very dreamy soundscapes, with Mike Horn looping his shimmery guitar masterfully around Jarrod Annis' beautiful lap steel work. SoB's Clockwatching was a favorite from last year, but if this set is anything to go off of, Horn is just getting started.

And finally! Emergency Group, whose radical debut on Island House has been playing constantly in my house for the past couple of months — as I said in my review, it's a "massive slab of Electric Miles-inspired jams." And as a live act, they certainly don't disappoint, stretching out and digging in, making magical moments happen with frightening regularity.

[envisitadecortesia]

Abandonados en puerto

El 17 de septiembre de 2000 llegaba al puerto de Barcelona el crucero SeaWind Crown, sus pasajeros no esperaban ninguna ceremonia de bienvenida, más bien todo lo contrario, ahora emprendía el periodo más oscuro de su vida marinera. Quedó atracado en el Muelle de Barcelona, en donde familiares y amigos recibieron a los 800 pasajeros que debían terminar un crucero por el Mediterráneo organizado por…

[rhapsodj]

【Drawn by NIGHT WOLF】

Romance of SeaWind.

[pavus]

𝐖𝐘𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓 / Luskar, a Savage Seawind belonging to Umberlee, Tempest Domain Cleric, High Elf, Chaotic Evil. Cold to the touch & tastes of salt.

[wonwoosstuff]

Seawind | wonwoo x fem.reader (fluff)

Pairing: husband!wonwoo x wife!reader

Genre: married couple, wonwoo’s obsessed with his wife, vacation, too much fluff, words of affirmation, physical touch, kisses (like a lot), slight angst, pet names (baby, hubby, love), reader is shorter than woo, comfort ,established relationship, romance

Warning: death of a loved one (mentioned)

Summary: you’re on vacation with your husband. Your trip starts on a cruise ship. Wonwoo goes upstairs on the deck and observes the expanse of the sea while thinking about your marriage.

A/N: how in the world did this turn into a slightly angsty fic??? Also I’ve been thinking a lot about hubby wonu. Hope you enjoy my very first (I’m not even kidding) ff.

————————————————————————

It has been three years since you got married to Wonwoo. Your husband encountered you at the worst part of your life. When your father passed away five years ago, you grappled with the intricacies of emotional coping. Throughout that period, Wonwoo stood steadfastly by your side and continued to do so. It is without a doubt that you’re immensely grateful for your husband.

Reflecting on your trauma, Wonwoo has been delicate with you, like handling a piece of porcelain.

He was leaning against the ships railing gazing at the sea. Thousands of thoughts were wandering through his mind. A sweet and familiar voice brought Wonwoo back into reality.

"What's on your mind, hubby?" you inquired, leaning against the railing. Your free hand delicately caressed his back as you smiled at your husband.

"Nothing much," he replied. It was true that Wonwoo wasn't adept at expressing his feelings, but he excelled in deciphering minds, particularly yours.

"Well, that didn't seem like 'nothing much,'" you playfully added. A grin formed on his lips. Wonwoo, who had been gazing at the water earlier, turned his head to look at you.

His big figure hugged you. Oh how he loved you so much. “Thank you for being my wife.” He said.

"Oh, wha—I mean, you're welcome," a laugh escaped both of your mouths. "I'm just kidding. Baby, that's so sweet." Wonwoo fell silent for a moment. You were leaning against his chest, hearing his heart beating fast. His chin rested on your head. All you could hear at the moment was the satisfying sound of sea waves lapping against the ship and your hearts pounding loudly. Your arms enveloped his waist.

In his arms, you felt secure. Safety and comfort were attributes you deeply admired about Wonwoo.

“Love?” He broke the silence. You hummed softly in response. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known. You should know that I’m proud of you.” Facing each other your husband leaned in and connected your lips. He kissed you passionately yet delicately.

What followed after were sweet and tender kisses interrupting you mid-sentence.

“Won” -kiss- “woo”-kiss- “I“ -kiss-“love” -kiss- “you.”

"I love you too, wifey," Wonwoo expressed, lifting your chin with his hand to meet his gaze. A blush graced your face. "Your new makeup look suits you," he chuckled. You hid your reddening face in his chest, hugging his waist. Your husband smiled so profoundly that his gums began to ache.

This vacation was going to be your best one. You were pretty sure about that.

————————————————————————

It’s pretty short. Sawwwrryyy. I wish me a husband like Wonwoo though. Is that too much to ask for?

©️ wonwoosstuff do not copy or translate!

[librarycomic]

Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment. Harper Alley, 2023. 9780063065208. 288pp. https://www.powells.com/book/-9780063065208?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Ember is a tiny boy who lives in a huge city and dreams of going to school with the "giant" kids at Seawinds Elementary. One day he slips and falls into the schoolyard and, after an Indian Jones-esque escape, ends up on a beach where he meets Lua, a sea turtle. She tells him about an island she found when she was a little turtle, a magical place full of lost creatures where she went to school and learned about the world. And she offers to take him there.

And the island is super cool, but telling you more about it and what happens there would spoil this graphic novel for you. This book is just as beautifully drawn as Pamment's Treasure in the Lake, and it's full of strange, magical, and mostly friendly animals and plants. My favorite character is Ember's first friend on the island, a rock that helps him get to school on his first day. (Doug the dung beetle is a close second.)

[house-strong]

༄࿔ dragon’s breath & lady’s lace

summary ; drabble requested by anon as part of my 1k follower celebration.

“romantic confession #6 with Jacaerys?”

"6. are you really so oblivious?"

pairing ; jacaerys velaryon x reader

notes ; the place is similar to where jaime and bronn train secretly after jaime loses his sword hand.

jacaerys had tried every trick in his book to capture your attention, yet nothing seemed to be working in his favor.

he tried escorting you around the castle, sitting by you in the commonhall, and even going as far as arranging meetings in the pavilion near the jeweled gardens of the red keep. you, however, always took these actions as nothing more than a friendly endeavor – a command whistled by his mother.

he decided he had enough of playing games.

“where are you taking me?” you demanded, jace’s fingers gently enclosed around your wrist. it’s tight enough to keep a hold on you, but not to the point where it would hurt you. you’re stumbling after him, desperately trying to catch up to his long, quick strides.

“you will see – be patient,” he responds back to you, a toothy grin parting his lips as he turns back for a moment to glance at you. there’s a coat of pink dusting his cheeks. what was he blushing about?

you give an audible groan, much to his amusement, and instead take a moment to observe your surroundings while he drags you along. you both are in the royal gardens, surrounding by tall hedges of flower walls and white, marbled sculptures that look aesthetic. you pass a three-tiered fountain, with a leaping fish atop, and it sputters out spouts of water, delighting any watcher. the hedges soon grow thicker, with more twists and turns.

the sea salt spray of the ocean becomes increasingly noticeable and the waves crash against the rock wall with thunderous booms. you’re both going down steps now, his hand leaving yours as he steadies himself down the uneven gravel of the path.

“careful now,” he shouts, his voice almost cracking under the weight of the sea waves. the path in front of you morphs into clarity and the vast, blackwater bay blossoms like a flower beneath the green foliage. there’s seagulls flying, squawking out their cries over the gulf.

it’s breathtaking after you take the last few steps out of the vegetation.

“it’s magnificent, isn’t it?” jace says, his voice light and ringing with the bell of excitement. he’s rubbing his hands together for warmth and pulling his dark doublet closer to his body. he teeters over to the edge of the stone lookout, leaning over the parapet cautiously. “luke and i were exploring the other day, and we ferreted this.”

he turns his head and grins at the sight of your slack jaw, the color of your face rapidly warming at the cold winds that slap your face. your hair is wildly flapping against the seawind despite the bonds that secure your hair, your eyes squinting slightly.

under your breath and silenced by the roar of the sea, you mutter, “wow.”

“i wanted to share it with you,” he says, moving closer to you and guiding you closer to the stone parapet. you’re in between two dragon gargoyles, their wings outstretched with their mouths gaping. “it’s meant for those special to me.”

your brows furrow slightly.

“special?” you echo, turning your head to take a look at his face. he’s watching you carefully, his bottom lip being sucked into his mouth as he thinks over his next words. he’s less than a patient man, but he doesn’t want to scare you off. “what do you mean special, jace?”

he laughs slightly, out of nervousness or at your ignorance, “are you so oblivious?”

he looks down at your hand, which is resting on top of the half-wall, and places his on top. the skin is warm, despite the few abrasion that adorn the palm. it’s warm and inviting, a shawl of adulation settling over your shoulders.

“you’re special to me,” he starts. he bites his lip and chews on it, unable to find the words to release his torment. “i–” jace pauses, and in a sudden burst of frustration, “i like you, more than friends.”

there’s pure harmony and bliss that explodes in your stomach, sending your body into a pleasant euphoria. you laugh, the sudden reminder that you’ve been unknowingly declining every advancement he made. he chuckles alongside with you, but he’s not too sure what you’re both supposed to be laughing at.

your hands raise to cup his cheeks and you move forward to place a chaste kiss on his lips. he’s instantly dumbstruck, his cheeks illuminating with another, darker pink hue.

“i thought you wanted to friends.”

his brows furrow and he snorts out something akin to a chortle, clearly amused with the miscommunication, “no, i want to be much more than that.”

with a noise of delight coming from you, jace moves forward to place a kiss of his own on your lips. you wrap your arms around him and return the action.

he wants to stay like this, forever.

[fuchinobe]

S/T (1979, Daystar Records, DRL-7001)

Cover of the song by Seawind.

[dustedmagazine]

Davide Cedolin — Ligurian Pastoral (Island House)

Ligurian Pastoral by Davide Cedolin

Liguria, in Italy, is where the boot might meet the top of the thigh, a mountainous region in which rocky cliffs jut out of the sea and tourists hike from fishing village to fishing village along the Cinque Terre. It’s not exactly unpopulated — the largest city is Genoa — but there are lots of parks and natural areas, and it is there in these wilder places that guitarist Davide Cedolin finds inspiration.

This cassette release collects seven serene and unruffled meditations, mostly in finger picked acoustic guitar, but augmented sometimes with threads of bowed bass, lap steel and harmonica. Natural sounds, like a thunderstorm and bird noises, move in and out of these pieces, which are, themselves, natural and unpretentious. You can imagine the guitarist working them out in some sunny spot, perhaps picking up stakes and running inside when the weather turns and its starts to rain.

“Ca de Cavo” is especially lovely, its eddying cascades of finger picking shot through with bending, shifting tones of lap steel (that’s Mike Horn from Seawind of Battery sitting in). These compositions are not overly concerned with melody or song structure. They unspool in repeated patterns with few signposts indicating beginning, middle or end. They open out into a kind of wide-horizoned dreaminess, an infinity pool of sound that stretches as far as you can see.

Cedolin’s Instagram tells us that he’s been learning from Daniel Bachman, another skilled finger-picker whose compositions stretch to incorporate the living world. He is, at least so far, more tethered to the sound of his instrument; field recordings nest in the crevices of his songs, rather than taking them over. In “Lische Alte,” for instance, the rumble of wind slips between pensive guitar chords, the arc of lap steel (Horn again) tracing a throughline in the lyric jangle.

Ligurian Pastoral exists in its own time and space. It’s in no hurry to get to the end of its placid compositions, nor, after a while, is the listener. But it does take some adjustment, some slowing, some calming, some willingness to sit with this music, to get to its pleasures. Put it on with the sun streaming in and the whole afternoon idling in front of you. It will unfold like a flower.

Jennifer Kelly

[cheesebrainz]

Seawinds brought her to me A butterfly, mere one-day miracle of life

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

Seawind Of Battery & ragenap - Chaos Life Preserver

Since it's just about Halloween, here's a chocolate-and-peanut-butter kind of situation for your Bandcamp Monday. Seawind of Battery (AKA Mike Horn) and ragenap (AKA Joel Berk) have joined forces for this massive slab of dangerously beautiful dronecore released on the esteemed Eiderdown label. Billowing feedback, shimmering soundscapes, heady interplay — Chaos Life Preserver is a fully transcendent trip (and hopefully just the beginning of this pair's collaborations).

[funny-ocean22]

2024 Art Fight attacks - Part 6!

Dumnote - @idiot-toast

Dylan - @garbogod

Ella Aurums - @borderlineinsanityart

Captain Enalia Seawind - @morgombie

Fish Tank - @kayze-draws

Mahōisha Naichū - @moshi-roulette

[cloud-kaiju]

Spore is another "superhero" in Seawind and further afield, a human with a strange mushroom infestation which can form a super-suit around her, sometimes rather big if conditions favor her growth.

Unlike Megan, Spore is concerned with just planting trees to help the environment and rarely bothers with crime. Noone is sure why she has a secret identity.