Bochum Welt's music has typically balanced fuzzy, emotive melodies and crunchy electro beats, neatly fitting into the braindance ethos of
Aphex Twin's beloved Rephlex label.
Seafire is the Italian musician's first proper album since Rephlex ceased activity, and it arrives on Central Processing Unit, a Sheffield-based imprint which is quickly establishing itself as the heir to the Rephlex legacy. While much of the label's output centers around various permutations of electro,
Seafire leans much closer to ambient and downtempo, with most of the 11 brief pieces consisting of gentle, airy synths and minimal beats, if there are any at all. The general mood seems to be one of calm, solemn reflection combined with pleasant relaxation, best demonstrated by tracks such as the leisurely stroll of "Southern England in Summer." A few uptempo tracks change up the mood, namely the steadily surging "THR (Dance Mix)," the laser-powered electro of "Melodie d'Aout (Extended)," and the playful, lo-fi "Mavic 1," which revisits the '80s-inspired melodies of the producer's earlier material. Some of the tracks feel like demos or sketches due to their simplicity and abruptness, but it's hard to find any fault with the album's highlights, particularly the gorgeous, starry finale "More Light."