Floating Action sounds like the intersection of a 1970s soul session and a secluded Appalachian cabin. The music is defined by a thick, syrupy low-end that owes as much to King Tubby as it does to JJ Cale. It is slow-motion pop that refuses to rush, anchored by Seth Kauffman's hushed, intimate vocals and a drum sound that feels like it was recorded through a thick layer of vintage wool.
What makes this project distinctive is the 'one-man-band' precision of the studio recordings. Kauffman plays every instrument with a specific, laid-back 'pocket' that most full bands spend years trying to replicate. There is a deliberate avoidance of digital sheen, opting instead for tape saturation and a dusty, organic feel that makes the songs feel like found objects or long-lost radio hits from a parallel dimension.
Start with the self-titled 2009 debut for the purest distillation of this sound. It introduces the signature 'Carolina Funk' aesthetic: catchy, Beatles-esque melodies filtered through a hazy, dub-influenced production style that rewards repeated, close listening.
Floating Action is a band from Black Mountain, North Carolina, founded by Seth Kauffman. Kauffman is the band's sole lyricist, songwriter, recorder and producer, in addition to playing almost all the music. Kauffman has been called "the underappreciated genius of the Asheville music scene", and has been compared to Harry Nilsson. Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Kauffman's frequent collaborator, called him "the most underrated person in music". He has also been praised by the Black Keys, Zach Miller of Dr. Dog, and Jonah Hill.
Shares lo fi, analog warmth, bedroom production (production style); indie rock, lo-fi hip-hop, dub (subgenres)
Shares indie rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock (subgenres); analog warmth, bedroom production, tape saturation (production style)
Shares indie rock, psychedelic rock, lo-fi hip-hop (subgenres); breathy, gentle, deadpan (vocal style)
Shares indie rock, psychedelic rock, lo-fi hip-hop (subgenres); lo fi, analog warmth, tape saturation (production style)
Shares lo fi, analog warmth, bedroom production (production style); breathy, gentle, deadpan (vocal style)
Shares lo fi, bedroom production, analog warmth (production style); indie rock, psychedelic rock (subgenres)
Shares indie rock, dub, psychedelic rock (subgenres); gentle, breathy, deadpan (vocal style)
Shares breathy, gentle, deadpan (vocal style); analog warmth, bedroom production, tape saturation (production style)
Shares bedroom production, lo fi, tape saturation (production style); indie rock, lo-fi hip-hop (subgenres)
Shares lo fi, analog warmth, bedroom production (production style); breathy, gentle, deadpan (vocal style)
Shares dub, dusty, psychedelic rock, tape saturation (signature)
Shares dub, psychedelic rock, serene, indie rock (signature)
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