Seequill
New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Whereas many bands seem to be concerned with taking something pretty-sounding and making it dissonant, Scrambler Seequill has an interesting way of taking dissonance and making it sound pretty. They’re adept at mixing different textures and sounds — big drums, electronic bits and blips, thoughtfully-played spaghetti western guitars, dreamy reverb vocals, string orchestration — as if assembling a collage made up of sounds they’ve torn apart and recomposed to their distinct liking along with whatever interesting outside fragments they’ve discovered in the process. There’s a certain sense of curiosity built in to much of the music, like they were constantly just trying things out as they went, that makes it all seem somewhat lighthearted even as there’s a sense of interesting murkiness that seems to come from the knowledge that maybe the chance they’re taking might not work out. But they try things out anyway and are better for it. - Stereoactive NYC Blog
- Stereoactive Blog
Scrambler Seequill is a Brooklyn duo full of sonic surprises. Ethereal atmoshpheres, crunchy distorted beats, sudden reggae-ish breaks, zappian guitar solos, weird samples and loops coexist in a unique hodgepodge of music influences. The combined sounds of Mike Gamble's (Scrambler) deft guitar arrangements and loop wizardry with Devin Febbroriello's (Seequill) rhythmic compositions and ghostly vocals, create a colorful palette in which they nonchalantly mess with our minds and ears.Their live performances introduce extra improvisation when joined by drummer Conor Elmes and bass player Ari Folman Cohen. Their debut CD "Secret Passageways", recorded mostly in an abandoned house and yes, their bathroom, is out now digitally worldwide. They will be playing a free all ages show March 6th at The Tea Lounge in Brooklyn at 9 pm. - The Deli Magazine NYC
SCRAMBLER SEEQUILL : secret passageways : Layered
rnk: Here's a strange monster of a record: jam-packed with incredibly dense tracks touching mystic genres and taking off to aetherial heights (despite that volcano and all) conjured up by multi-instrumentalist Mika Gamble (of The Inbetweens, see above) aka Scrambler, singer Devin Febbroriello (that's Seequill) pierces those passageways like she's a dangerous lioness guarding a secret fort next to Neverland. The Layered guys should really keep adding more artists to their roster and give RZA's infamous five-year-plan another shot. 8.5/10 - Lodown Magazine
Scrambler Seequill is the half prog rock, half art pop duo of Michael Gamble (Scrambler) and Devin Febboriello (Seequill). While Gamble was educated in musical conservatories, Febboriello has dabbled in many creative media, including painting and filmmaking, and their different backgrounds come together to create a complex, experimental sound, such as on "Rest For Now." On this track, Americana guitar blends with otherworldly electronics and Febboriello's detached vocals to produce a dreamy, evocative soundscape. - WNYC
Discography
The Abandoned House EP 2009
Secret Passageways LP 2010
Social Life LP - 2013
Photos
Bio
In late 2007 Devin Febbroriello and Michael Gamble took a much needed rest from the grind of NYC and escaped to an secluded home in northern Connecticut. With no particular plan in mind the duo started to write and record music. What happened over those weeks formed the basis of what would one day become Seequill.
Originally a duo, the band has formed and reformed several times before ultimately settling as a quartet with drummer Conor Elmes and bass player Spencer Zahn. They have played all over the East Coast, as well as countless shows in New York City with many great independent artists.
Adept at constructing intricate orchestrations that come across effortlessly rock and roll, Seequill is driven by a need for honest expression. They experiment with many genres, loops and electronic layers to create a sound somewhere between classic rock and contemporary indie freak folk. Their new record "Social Life" was written over a year when lead singer Devin Febbroriello fell into a mystery illness that brought her to the brink of madness, and delivered her into a long dance with death. The title, rich with sarcasm, acknowledges all that must be shed when facing your true self. The music explores the many realms of the birth/death cycle. Unapologetic and direct, there is no easy way to transform. Febbroriello has often times been compared to Patti Smith, Niko, or Grace Slick, with a timeless punk rock abandon to her presence and soulful intricacy to her voice. The New York Times calls Mike Gambles guitar playing "An animating force with a wide awake, pop literate style" he has been compared to Nels Cline, Bill Frisell and John Dieterich.
In the last 6 months the band took a rest from constant live shows in order to complete "Social Life" . They plan to spend the beginning of 2013 touring and performing as much as possible in support of the new record.
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