Vince Simpson runs Serene Beneath as an instrumental project out of Brooklyn, New York. Moving away from the vocal-driven tracks of his other moniker, Lowah, this work draws on the clean arrangements of indie rock and psychedelic funk. The project isolates live instrumental parts, establishing a clear line between solo production and group collaboration.
Bloom
“Bloom” is like a gray block streaked with rain, an open orange flower dominates the sleeve. A brass expands the instrumentation of this debut single. The performance uses this visual contrast to ground a sudden shift in the musical direction. Andrew Warren’s saxophone breaks the solo configuration of the debut, cutting through the rhythm with an unhurried melody. This external contribution changes the layout, moving the horn voice across wide open musical intervals. The brass notes sit high in the mix, taking the lead away from the underlying rhythm section.
The arrangement ends without a return to the initial rhythm. On the sleeve illustration by Jimmy Simpson, the psychedelia has the form of a solid orange sky that balances the heavy gray blocks in the center. The horn line holds its final note against the remaining beat, stopping right after the percussion ceases.
Wilt
“Wilt” pairs a steady psychedelic funk groove with physical decline imagery. On the sleeve, a bent stem drops orange petals against a gray base. The track uses this visual decay to pull the rhythm away from a standard pop progression.
Simpson tracks and mixes the piece alone, building the indie rock arrangement through solo overdubbing. A single repetitive bassline controls the track, leaving no room for external players to alter the course. Sharp drum cuts mark the transitions, keeping the focus on the interactions between the bass and guitar lines.
The composition ends without a final resolution, avoiding a return to the opening tempo. Due to the independent tracking, individual instrumental lines remain separate rather than merging into a smooth wall of sound. A final guitar note stops before the rhythmic cycle can restart.
