Things just sit right in this song, in ways you might not expect at first or even consider you would like ‘til you do (and you really do). It’s got cover art to match: the casual appearance of the title on a passing train almost sounds too on the nose, but it just works, much like the inclusion of brass á-la-BCNR against lush electronic landscapes that would invoke the vaporwave category (or perhaps chill wave in a more contemporary conversation).
Short and sweet, Sean Gunner Lee’s “Swimming Laps” stands out, mostly, for its approach to shoegaze. In a world of myriad copy-paste gaze bands running the same instrument through the same pedals, the layering on this track is done almost entirely on the voices, down to the detuning effect you’d expect from a Jazzmaster’s trem arm. It’s very clear this is the work of somebody who’s cut their teeth.
Even recounting the mastery and straightforward electronic presence of the track, it’s worth highlighting that there’s a very human, perhaps even homely element to the song, the best example probably being the fingers audibly sliding off the instruments at the end. Nostalgia is a buzzword for music at this point, but Sean understands it- it’s got a heart to hark back to, and a home to yearn for.
On a personal note, I feel this is one of those songs that are just easy to daydream to, almost like it’s got an affinity to be paired to an imaginary animated video that never was, or never will be. The next hit of longing comes soon, though, for this is just the opening track for Lee’s upcoming album, Catalina, out May 2026.
Written by Charlotte Lacambra
