Customer Reviews

Seastones

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I originally listened to Seastones in 1975, and thought it was original, intense, and certainly worth keeping. As years flowed on by, I found myself remembering Lagin's abstract, avant-garde soundscapes, the rumbling undertones, the dreamlike electronic sonic images. In the '80s I returned to Seastones, and once again found it to be a magnetic, idiosyncratic and deeply moving work.
Now, today, January 29, 2003, I once again found myself remembering this 1975 work, the captivating tones and moods of it, rummaged through my tapes, found the 27-year-old original, and am playing it as I write these words.
Lagin is an extremely imaginative composer and musician. Seastones sails beyond all melodic, harmonic and rhythmic forms, aligning itself within the folds of avant-garde electronic music. As a result, it lives in the moment, unaffiliated with passing musical fads. Its impact and affect is in the mindzone, immediate and without history. An excellent work. Highly recommended for adventurous listeners.
Lee Underwood

I originally picked up a cassette of this album, and recently got a cd copy. What can I say? This is electronic music of another kind. Personally, I find it very relaxing and meditative, but I'm sure that others won't care for it.

It's very electronic, but unlike most other electronic and ambient music, it has no real rhythmic or beat properties. Comparisons to Tangerine Dream or Solar Fields would be pointless. Nor is it a flatline background sound--it does have ups and downs in the sound. And of course, nothing in the way of melodies, chord progressions, or other standard musical fare.

One thing that does bug me are the 'vocals', by the guest musicians. Can't really call it singing, it's more like chanting, but still disparate and off-beat like the rest of the music. But what bugs me is that the vocals are recorded clear, with no processing to make them blend into the rest of the music. It's rather jarring to the overall effect of the music. For this reason, I actually prefer the shorter version, which doesn't have the vocals on it.

All I can really say is that I find it quite interesting, but I don't really know who else would, other than the some of the other reviewers, here. :-)

"Seastones" is the only album that has been released from electronic music composer Ned Lagin. The original version of the piece was released in 1975 on The Grateful Dead's sub-label Round Records. While the majority of the music is performed by Ned himself, Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh (an electronic composer himself) also paid a substantial role in "Seastones". Also, there are notable appearances from Dead members Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart, Jefferson Airplane's Grace Slick, Spencer Dryden and David Freiberg and David Crosby from Crosby, Stills and Nash.
The "Seastones" piece is very much in the same vein of electronic composers such as Karlheinz Stockhausen and Morton Subotnick. There is also a faint hint of early Tangerine Dream in this music (ie: "Zeit" or "Atem"). This the type of music to be played on a clear night with the windows open, the lights out and the headphones on.
The CD reissue on Rykodisc includes an unreleased version of the piece (without Crosby or the Dead and Airplane members) alongside the original (which has two minutes missing from it in the middle). The overall remastered sound quality brings more audibilty to the quiet portions of the piece while the louder sections have a sharper prestiness to them.
While the CD is definitely not everyone's cup of tea, it is definitely a must for Deadheads as well as experimental music enthusiasts. Lagin has not released anything before or since "Seastones" but his only work is without a doubt his finest.

Coming from a fan who loves Dark Star, Drumz/Space - I thought the Studio effort of Seastones wasn't all that impressive. The first 10 min was recorded at low levels, you really gotta crank your stereo - the next 10 min follows r2d2 talking... Only one really cool section i enjoyed on the CD. I have the Seastones tapes which is circulated amongst deadhead trader circles and even though the sound quality on these recordings suck, i would listen to the hissier seastones than this studio endeavour. Sorry but i didn't get my 24 bucks worth. I listen to alot of experiemental/ bizzaro music and this is the worst i have heard - probably won't listen to this CD ever again

... the strangest cd I own. If you see this sandwhiched between american beauty and go to heaven just pass it up. you will never listen to this cd. but If you dare to try new stuff (well old)then try it out. 3 stars because of originality.