Undeniably odd, with an offbeat and leftfield cacophony of ambient noises opening the record, Viscula’s ‘Seagulls’ is an ambitiously intricate piece of post rock instrumental work. The eerie work from London based group is consistently ominous, making you feel trapped in a perpetual state of tension that somehow contrasts with the calmness it simultaneously manages to exude. The recording was attended by 4 musicians who played organic parts without any overlays. The instruments are simple — drums, bass, guitars, and keys. But somehow, the resultant sound is dexterous and intriguing beyond what you could imagine. It provokes your attention, has you constantly on edge, and never lets you loose from the hook it reels you in through.
The confluence of multiple genres, Seagulls sees Viscula bring psychedelic rock, dark wave, and trip-hop all together in a seemingly impossible to fit jig-saw. Having been formed a near twenty years ago in Ukraine, Viscula’s a storied group both through their experience and skill. Definitely, an instrumental record well worth engaging with.