aaamusic | On 05, Jun 2012

Cornish duo The Sea originally released their second record ‘Rooftops’ at the end of 2011, but despite solid reviews and a few high profile support slots, not to mention having a single featured in Hollyoaks, the album perhaps didn’t quite take off as much as had been anticipated. So, here it is again (with the official re-release date being May 7th)…

Comprised of brothers Peter (vocals, guitar, keys) and Alex Chrisholm (drums, backing vocals), The Sea’s debut album ‘Get It Back’ was a consistent if familiar lo-fi rock’n’roll record. Their second album ‘Rooftops’, however, is a bigger, poppier and more diverse offering, featuring a plentitude of indie influences and more interesting arrangements.

Opener and lead single ‘New York’ is a dynamite introduction to The Sea, with a hearty, galloping rhythm propelled by some simple but authoritative drumming, a bristling alt-rock riff, and soulful brass flourishes. This track is so strong that the fact the rest of the album leads of different, varying genres is actually slightly disappointing. Nonetheless, there are several other charms on this album, such as the psychedelic Britpop of ‘Where’s The Love’ (with its Noel Gallagher-esque driving guitar), the brooding off-kilter brawl of ‘Rooftops Of London’, and the angsty, oldschool punk-rock of ‘Panic On The Streets Of Dalston’. ‘Shake Shake’ is a dazzling and soaring drum-heavy slab of Primal Scream or Kula Shaker inspired psychedelic alternative rock, and aside from ‘New York’ has got to be the album highlight.

However, there are also tracks that don’t quite fit, or are rather forgettable, such as the bouncy piano- rock of ‘Silly Love Song’, that sounds more like Scouting For Girls than Ben Folds Five, the mini ballad ‘Cry’, the Cold War Kids-lite ‘Listen Darling’, and the pop-rock pomp of theatric closer ‘Emily’s Waltz’. Furthermore, although Peter’s vocals are mighty fine on the heavier, Britpop inspired tracks, his everyman screech doesn’t really match up with the pop-rock and slow-paced stuff.

That being said, The Sea have done a commendable job in creating a Britpop indie meets alt-rock album that manages to be both big in the catchy hook department and retain a gritty core of rock’n’roll.

★★★★★
Clive Rozario