The Double Headed Seagulls, the project of Texan artist Dave Wirth, works a subtle kind of magic with "Play Artful". This four-track EP, compact in its duration yet vast in its atmosphere, is not merely a new collection of sounds; it is an exercise in affective archaeology. The raw material consists of sonic seeds planted in the past, echoes from cassette tapes recorded during the sessions for their 2011 album "Slimline", now exhumed and reimagined with a completely new intent.
What emerges from this manipulation of analog fragments is a sonic universe that evokes the unpretentious curiosity of a child and the wisdom of an experienced artist. The jazz-like modulation of guitars converses with the ambient textures of synthesizers, creating a lo-fi IDM that is paradoxically both nostalgic and futuristic. The title track, "Play Artful", is a direct invitation into this state of mind, while pieces like "One Pot Screamer" and "Doss Money" pulse with a propulsive and melodic energy, distancing themselves from the noisy seriousness of the band's earlier work.
The feeling is that of finding an old chest in the attic and discovering that the toys stored inside still work, but now speak a more complex and enchanting language. It is like witnessing creative children scribbling on the walls with crayons – the parents might roll their eyes, but they secretly delight in that pure expression of joy. "Play Artful" is precisely that: a celebration of the creative process in its most playful and, consequently, most artful form.