Artists | Issues | CD Reviews | Interviews | Concert Reviews | DVD/Video Reviews | Book Reviews | Who We Are | Staff | Home
 

Brandon Seabrook

Hellbent Daydream

Review by Gary Hill
This instrumental album definitely fits into the art music heading. Instrumentally it features guitars and banjo (Brandon Seabrook), bass (Henry Fraser), violin (Erica Dicker) and piano and synthesizers (Elias Semeseder). Musically, it stretches across such odd companions as bluegrass, jazz and hard edged prog. I’ve reviewed a couple of other releases from Seabrook. Like those, this is not music designed for mainstream audiences. Also like them, this is compelling, unique and intriguing.


This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2026  Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2026.

Track by Track Review
Name Dropping is the Lowest Form of Conversation

The intro to this feels almost like a music box. Freaky guitar comes in from there, and the track builds outward gradually. This thing continues to evolve. It’s trippy and freaky and so intriguing. This is art music at its artsiest, while also getting into some pretty intense rock zones. It’s weird, but also tasty. There is a freeform fusion meets King Crimson vibe to this.

Bespattered Bygones

Violin gets things underway here. There is definitely a bluegrass angle to this. Yet, it’s also based on experimental fusion and art music. It gets really freaky at times. The eventually transitions toward more freaky electronic based music. Yet, then we get a resurgence of the bluegrass instrumentation. This continues exploring sonic zones with more trippy vibes at play.

Hellbent Daydream

The title track definitely earns comparisons to trippier King Crimson stuff. This is dark, dynamic and diverse. It’s also stunning at times. It’s freeform and unpredictable, but still has a natural flow to it.

I'm a Nightmare and You Know It

Violin, guitar and piano often seem to be in a competition with one another here. If possible, this is even more freeform than the music that came before it. It’s definitely experimental. It’s also effective. While a lot of this is loud and intense, there are mellower modes, including a very atmospheric movement at the end.

Existential Banger Infinite Ceiling

The violin on this often brings a movie soundtrack vibe. This is a freeform and dramatic number that has some intriguing moods and explorations.

The Arkansas Tattler

Befitting the title, this is another that has a definite bluegrass vibe as it gets underway. That section evolves, but also holds the track for roughly the first half. Bass takes a solo beyond that. After that maintains command for a while other instruments gradually climb up into the arrangement and this turns decidedly freakier.

Autopsied Cloudburst

Melodic vibes are contrasted with freaky freeform jamming on this closing number. After building for a time, this shifts to a more stripped back and mellower arrangement. It gets noisier and weirder as it evolves from there.

 
Return
 
Google

   Creative Commons License
   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.

    © 2026 Music Street Journal                                                                           Site design and programming by Studio Fyra, Inc./Beetcafe.com