Nowhere
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
The project of San Francisco’s Lalin St. Juste and Akiyoshi Ehara, as The Seshen the duo plus others make music that blends electronic, R&B and indie-pop into songs about loss, estrangement and approaching the unknown.
“Nowhere” opens the listen with playful beats and an electronic haze alongside the soulful, comforting singing from St. Juste that shifts into lively electro-pop, and “Hold Me” follows with Chris Thalmann’s playful drumming suiting the expressive vocals that enters dreamy territory.
Landing near the middle is “Gone Under”, where Mirza Kopleman’s agile percussion and Ehara’s precise bass make for much exploration, while “Nothing Left To Say” is quite intimate and flows in waves of beauty and gentle pop ideas.
Close to the end, “Watching The Rain”, the best track, showcases St. Juste’s gorgeous and radiant vocals amid the R&B backdrop, and “Walking Away” exits with a mesmerizing buzzing thanks to Mahesh Rao’s moody keys and the both soft and firm gestures.
A raw body of work that’s very much rooted in love and loss, and production certainly illuminates the sonic glow of the sextet’s powerful and often reflect formula.
Travels well with: Wolf Eyes- Dreams In Splattered Lines; Lesley Mok- The Living Collection