The Sea The Sea - Sub Rosa
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| The Sea The Sea - Sub Rosa |
Release Date: 7th October 2013
I've always fancied doing a PhD
in to some obscure area of the music industry and one notion was to look in to
why scenes erupt in certain, seemingly non-descript areas. I know a lot of it
is to do with A&R men flocking to find the next big thing in the wake of
one regional success but there wasn't exactly an influx of industry toss bags
to South Devon after Muse went stratospheric so there has to be more to it than
that. Oxford would be a great place to start and that, dear reader, is exactly
where The Sea The Sea hail from (ironically, nowhere near the wet stuff).
Following the path so well trod by the likes of Radiohead, Supergrass, Ride and
Swervedriver, this debut EP is quietly confident and promises more from the
quintet even if it isn't the most immediate of impacts - the best things are
never obvious, though, are they?
So, the music: Opening track 'These
Shadows' is fairly standard 80s indie fare with a modern approach, merging the
Cure with Editors and sprinkling on a little Unbelievable Truth for good
measure. 'System Sleep' is far more interesting matter altogether, however, as
the subdued beat brings the muted guitars to life and the melancholy vocals of
Matthew Clarkson bring a touching sensitivity to affairs as he sings about
rivers ("Beam the length of Trent or the Nile"). If you mix Dutch
Uncles, Vampire Weekend and 'Unforgettable Fire' era U2 together and give the
resultant tune a big fat bassline, courtesy of Patrick Merricks, then you will
have witnessed the swooning, floppy haired wonderfulness of 'What Came Before'
and, lo, your soul will be soothed. The final track on this all-too-brief
affair is the unapologetically sombre and funereal 'Anemone' which, if Bloc Party were to have died
recently, would be the song they would have written in heaven with Ian Curtis
and Kurt Cobain as they looked down on us and shook their heads at what we've
done to humanity. This is not a love at first sight record, nor is it full of
lusty, burning passion. No, what The Sea The Sea have created here is a
considered, thoughtful and many layered record or, to go back to my previous
analogy, this is falling in love with your best friend after years of knowing
them about 5 minutes before they get married to a man/woman you know to be an
utter douche. It's beautiful and entirely heart breaking at exactly the same
time.
More information: http://www.theseathesea.co.uk
Live Dates:
6th October - Truck Store, Oxford
1st November - The Port Mahon, Oxford (w/Sweet William,
Fraeda)
22nd November - The Jericho Tavern, Oxford