Seymour is an American living in Nagoya, Japan. And his music sure does remind me of other Japanese artists. First, of some of Nobukazu Takemura's works, whose Childisc label released Lullatone’s second album. Another one would be Piana, who was behind one of the most striking and emotional albums of last year (browse our archive for a review). On the label side, after Childisc, it’s through another great Japanese label that Seymour releases his new album. Plop is fast becoming one of my favourites labels, thanks to Fonica, Sora and Kazumasa Hashimoto (all reviewed in our archive too). As it is the tradition with the label, it’s Fonica’s Cheason who did the album’s design.

Not unlike Colleen (from France, her album released on Leaf last year is a true delight), Seymour uses a lot of toy-instruments to make his music. It gives to the sound real warmth and a deep feeling of nostalgia. The melodies are at the same time naïve and carefully worked on, minimal and full of gentleness. As the name of the album implies, it’s all about raindrops. The music actually sounds like what raindrops would sound like if each drop were a musical note. However, it remains a soft, gentle, light rain, one of spring and summer’s mornings. You will never get anything that comes close to sound like a storm or a shower. Even the addition of a guitar on two tracks doesn’t make a change. Truth be told, the guitar is Sugimoto Keiichi’s. Sugimoto, it has to be said, plays in Fonica and Minamo (you know were to look for a review…), both bands whose music can be linked to Lullatone's, as they each have a lot to do with nature, delicacy and subtlety.

Little songs about raindrops is an incredibly relaxing and peace_of_mind-inducing album. A truly essential buy for those of you who plan on spending summer quietly with your better-half (or thinking about your future better-half).