Seeming’s 2020 album, The Birdwatcher’s Guide to Atrocity, offers ten tracks that are both menacing and vulnerable, furious yet intimate. Co-produced with Sarah Hennies, this album shines an eerie light on life under capitalism through chamber pop, postpunk, and synthpop. It radiates political revolt, personal remembrance, and disarming compassion, making Seeming’s post-anthropocene futurity all the more relevant.
Key Tracks and Themes
The album, clocking in at 37 minutes, features several standout tracks:
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“The Fates”: A harrowing tempo experiment that serves as the opener.
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“Go Small”: A frantic pop single exploring themes of scaling down in the face of overwhelming global issues.
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“Someday Lily”: Another frantic pop single with an uplifting message of self-discovery.
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“The Flood Comes for You”: A stark reflection on environmental consequences.
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“Remember to Breathe”: A lush plea against disappearance, urging resilience.
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“End Studies”: An industrial banger signaling the end of old regimes.
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“Permanent”: A somber reflection on loss and memory.
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“Reality Is Afraid”: A defiant track about pushing beyond boundaries.
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“Learn to Vanish”: A meditative piece on finding peace and disappearing.
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“Celebration Song”: A chaotic celebration of the end and a call to madness.
Diving Deep into the Lyrics
Each song on The Birdwatcher’s Guide to Atrocity features thought-provoking lyrics that contribute to the album’s overall themes:
“The Fates”
This track sets a haunting tone with themes of impending doom:
The fates are coming
They’re nothing like you at all
I can hear their hundred hearts through the wall
So rise up, with eyes for surprise ahead
“Go Small”
This song encourages focusing on the individual amidst global chaos:
Go small ‘Cause when you try to see it all you’ll see
The earth is radiantly suicidal
“Someday Lily”
This track is about embracing individuality and optimism:
Someday Lily
You’ll be you, only you
Don’t go believing that here and now is how it’s gonna stay
“The Flood Comes for You”
This song reflects on accountability in the face of environmental disaster:
You’ll drown with me in your melted the ice caps
The boiling sea washing over the White House
You were asking for it, crying “I can’t breathe”
“Remember to Breathe”
This song is a reminder to stay grounded and persevere:
Remember to breathe
Cause you’re in this for the long haul
“End Studies”
This track signifies the end of old systems and the birth of something new:
I was taught the language of the old gods
The last new child of the lost regimes
“Permanent”
This song explores themes of memory and the lasting impact of events:
Listen to the sand
Listen to the ground
There’s always gonna be another way out
I am your shade in the morning
You are my shadow at dusk
And the music our footprints write is permanent
“Reality Is Afraid”
This track celebrates defiance and the power of breaking free from constraints:
Reality is shaking
Reality is wringing its hands
Cause we’ve run beyond its radius
Reality’s afraid of us
“Learn to Vanish”
This song suggests finding peace through simplicity and letting go:
Plant a tree
Take a walk
Become the wild
Learn to vanish
“Celebration Song”
This track is a chaotic yet cathartic celebration of destruction and renewal:
Now you’re out of the picture
And the picture is off the wall
And the walls are gone from the temple
About Seeming
Seeming is the project of Alex Reed, with Aaron Fuleki. Alex is also the author of a 33 1/3 book and Assimilate: A Critical History of Industrial Music. Fans of Low, Depeche Mode, Chelsea Wolfe, Hurts, Einstürzende Neubauten, Twin Shadow, Emma Ruth Rundle, IAMX, Leonard Cohen, ANOHNI, and HEALTH might find similar appeal in Seeming’s work.
The Monster Bonus LP
The 2-CD release includes a bonus LP titled Monster, featuring additional tracks:
- Be Like Lightning
- You Rang
- Monster
- I Recognize You
- Radically
- Grief
- Quiet as the Dead
- Niagara Falls
- Something Desperate
- Doomsayer (FIRES mix)
- Go Small (Big mix)
Final Thoughts
The Birdwatcher’s Guide to Atrocity is a compelling exploration of modern life through a unique musical lens. With its blend of genres and introspective lyrics, Seeming offers a soundtrack for navigating the complexities of our times. Whether you’re drawn to the political themes, the personal reflections, or the experimental soundscapes, this album provides a rich and rewarding listening experience.
