By Ryan Smith

It is my distinct pleasure to introduce a lot of you to Cloud Seeding, the experimental, singles-only project of Brooklyn, New York-based guitarist Kevin Serra. Since launching the project as a way to showcase the talents of various vocalists, Serra has released six singles under the name Cloud Seeding and has covered a variety of styles. While his last single, a little tract of breath-taking, reverb-soaked heaven called “Mirage,” featured vocals (delivered astonishingly by Alexa Wilding) and a more linear arrangement, the seventh and latest Cloud Seeding single, “Kaleidocycle,” is strictly instrumental.

The three track single starts off with “Kaleidocycle I,” which, while essentially a bobbed one minute, fifty-four second version of the full movement, provides a brief introduction to the motif. Featuring Serra on sweeping ambient guitar, Cedar Apffel on keys and bass, and Rory O’Connor on drums, “Kaleidocycle” takes a stunning ambient atmosphere and marries it with a pulsing shoegaze soundscape. The end product sounds something like the triumphant, happy ending theme from a movie.

Cloud Seeding: Kevin Serra.

After this, we are treated to an odd thirty-second interlude called “Selma.” With its eclectic, twangy, country air vibe, “Selma” is oddly beautiful, but could have been a tad longer, in my opinion, perhaps even progressing to somewhere as moving as the main track… which brings us to “Kaleidocycle II,” the meat of this single release. This tune plays out exactly like part one, but instead of fading away into oblivion, it continues past the one minute, fifty four second mark and builds to a triumphant climax before gently coming to a close.

As a fan of experimental instrumental music, I highly recommend you head on over and check out this single! Press materials for “Kaleidocycle” state that it is ‘the perfect backdrop for summer daydreams.’ I would happen to agree that this is most certainly the kind of good vibe the track gives off. Cloud Seeding’s “Kaleidocycle” is a spectacular show of airy atmosphere, perfect for nostalgia of most any kind.

RYAN SMITH spends a great deal of his time under troll bridges shaking his fist and hollering obscenities at the mainstream, but occasionally finds himself on the side of a pop act that the underground has disowned. A schizoid fan for the 21st century? Although he has a diverse musical taste that runs the gamut from black metal to country to most forms of jazz, Ryan’s first love will always be progressive music.