Louie Zong – Seven Snake Songs Review

After a near-death experience when first listening to Louie Zong, it was only fair to have a second go around with the prolific songwriter. Seven Snake Songs is a delightful album from the animator and musician, whose frequently impressive album designs are matched by the quality of their songs. Judge a book by its cover, as they say. Seven songs to do with snakes and all beginning with S. Alliteration is a friend of Zong. Of course it opens with a rattlesnake. What better way to start? Seven Snake Songs is as much a concept album as it is a confirmation of what Zong’s most dedicated listeners will already know. Their charm comes not just from the artistry on display, but from the delicacy you can hear. A fine blur which few can perfect as frequently as this. Instrumental bliss is what is on offer here.  

What begins as an easy-going listen soon reveals itself to be a menacing, confident approach to some guitar-led tracks. Much lighter than his standout album, Rat Taxi, but delightful all the same. There is a respectability to a project which runs just eighteen minutes yet feels as satisfying as those which take up an hour or two. Zong has perfected the short and sweet style of creativity, and the consistent releases mean their body of work is booming with these vibrant soundscapes. That is very much what Seven Snake Songs feels like. The second reptile-based track, Sidewinder Sway, does away with that groovy notion and focuses more on the fusion of instrumentals around a guitar, rather than the guitar itself. It works all the same, a nice experiment which highlights Zong as a creative with an ear for what could be the best easy listening on Bandcamp. There are few better albums to wind down with, no nicer way to cap off a hectic evening, than with Zong’s work.

For those feeling nostalgic, Zong may remind some listeners of peak Ratatat. Lush works, though Zong leans towards the lighter side with Seven Snake Songs. They use the atmosphere of the title, be it the sands or the sea, to make a mood, however brief. It is this lightness which will make or break the album for some. Slithery Serenade is a delight, with Zong toying with some synths and programming which really bring out the best in the song. Lo-fi? Not quite. There is still an intensity buried deep in Seven Snake Songs, but it is not practical to use such a tone when the tempo takes its time, the bass bringing out a slow, sleepy tone. A welcoming atmosphere is what Seven Snake Songs provides.  

More than that, though, is the tight instrumentation. The album has enough flair to it and a haul of interesting instrumental moments. Not all of them fit together as a concept, with Seven Sins a stark and oddly sinister contrast to the easy-going material before it, but keeping a listener on their toes is never a bad choice. Seven Snake Songs is a light, easy, and brief encounter with a musician whose backlog of works is so large, you are bound to find a track or two of interest. Stick around for the funk-laden album closer, Serpentmancer, and you get a feel for that boisterous momentum Zong has perfected elsewhere. Great fun for the evening, and Seven Snake Songs knows exactly what type of project it is. An experimental blast.