Every now and again, we like to dig into the recent past when we find something intriguing, unsettling or even frightening. Well this release, the four-track release, Badminton, The Volleys is, at the very least, certainly intriguing. This EP is brought to us by the duo, Seeded Plain whose members are Jay Kreimer and Brian Day and according to their bio “invented instruments and electronica”.

In some cases, albums can truly be appreciated without context, background or the artist biography. In other words, the music just speaks for itself. Badminton, The Volleys is the exact opposite. You really can’t appreciate what these two guys have created unless you look at their background. Jay Kreimer is an improvisational musician who has toured the world, invented instruments and Brian Day is an inventor who has used “scavenged electronics, repurposed mechanical components and amplified materials that you might find in your garage or great uncle’s office”.

Three of the tracks on this release are between 15 and 21 minutes in length. I wouldn’t necessarily call the EP “music” per se but then again that term can be subjective. However, these pieces can absolutely be referred to as… let’s say, sound sculptures. Is it art? Definitely.

In a release like this, the effectiveness partially lies in the limited amount of instruments unlike some albums that have numerous instruments with the pieces going in too many different directions often without purpose. We don’t feel that with this release. Badminton… sounds like the soundtrack to some suspicious activity in a remote area of a country where no one dares to go. I would love to see a visual companion to an album like this. There would still be room for imagination if there were visuals and not necessarily images related to the specific vision of the artists. There are not a lot of patterns or structure. but there’s a lot of interesting moments and sonic twists and turns. If anything, the mood is sort of effective when the artists, find moments of depth and minimalism with the composition. Furthermore, the moments where we don’t hear much are just as important as when we hear a lot going on.

These guys haven’t just invented their own instruments. They’ve created a sometimes whimsical, often disturbing, always interesting piece of art here. But I think it deserves having a visual companion… even if perhaps the album or the band was playing in some art gallery or oddities exhibit, maybe. Anyway… really interesting album. I’d definitely recommended it for those interested in experimental soundscapes, odd soundtracks or just something different all together.