D. Sel - Vibrations of the West II (album)
- by Moisés
- Mar 23, 2018
- 2 min read
D. Sel makes uplifting music. It feels peaceful but celestial, humble yet grand.
To start, the production on this project is always lush, with light piano chords and chorus lines from instruments or additional vocals that add power to the songs. Some of them mix this sound with more current drum sounds such as 'Holiday.' The beat selection is definitely a strength to this album, tapping producers like Yondo, LewAngelus, ROY Tsunami and IVN. All of these producers have distinct sounds, adding flavors we don't hear enough these days. Actin' Up is a good example of this, who's boom-clap rhythm is backed by whirling synths and light guitar riffs.
However, D. Sel remains the star of this project. Its evident this man takes time with his lyrics, yet it sounds so natural like his recording process is purely stream-of-consciousness. That requires talent, but mostly dedication to the craft of lyric-writing, to able to transmit your thoughts so clearly. On 'Paradise,' we hear how he does this while telling a story, going over every detail about spending time with a girl who's become his muse. The story builds as he moves in closer to her and the instrumental follows, with increasing tension from a string section, til it breaks and he realizes he was just dreaming. His lyrics are consistently vulnerable and soul-searching--take songs like 'Sunday Morning' where he sits contemplating his surroundings and 'Past Year' where he runs down everything he's been through since last year.
D. Sel really gives us a cathartic experience here, through the high caliber of both the sonic and lyrical aspects of this EP. This one deserves your time. Listen below:
