There’s nothing quite like the stirring warmth of rich, sweet music, and few bands do it better than The Sea The Sea. Out today, 6/1/2018, The Sea The Sea’s sophomore album From the Light is an earthy and celestial folk rock record rooted in lush melody and intimate emotion. Let the harmonies wash over you; let them cleanse your mind and lift your soul.
Named one of Atwood Magazine’s 2018 artists to watch, The Sea The Sea are a pop-leaning folk-rock quartet hailing from Troy, New York. Founding members (and married couple) Mira and Chuck Costa added Cara May Gorman and Stephen Struss to their permanent lineup soon after releasing and heavily touring their acclaimed 2014 debut album Love We Are We Love.
In doubling their size, the band also drastically transformed their sound while staying true to their folk origins. Whereas The Sea The Sea’s debut felt by and large like a traditional acoustic-leaning guitar-and-vocals record (with some exceptions), From the Light is far more reminiscent of Florence + The Machine and (Atwood favorites) The National Parks, who utilize folk elements in their pop/rock arrangements to create a multifaceted and many-textured listening experience. With breathtaking movement and mind-blowing vocals, From the Light is a coming-of-age record that taps into something deep inside.
The Sea The Sea rise with radiant beauty and dazzling energy to sweep us off our feet and capture our hearts. Opener “Everybody” lights the first fire with an incredible onslaught of harmonies. A testament to our commonalities (everybody’s falling, everybody’s getting up; nobody’s calling, nobody’s growing up), the song reminds us that in the long haul, we’re not so different from one another after all – even if it feels at times like you’re all alone in this world. It’s a call to togetherness, an inspiring magnet drawing us closer to our ourselves.
“Everybody” flows smoothly into the infectiously seductive single “Bang Bang Bang,” one of the band’s most memorable cuts and an early favorite: In our April track review, we wrote: “Passionate and evocative, the charming folk rock ballad weaves dramatic, full-bodied vocal harmonies into a hauntingly moving expression of the deepest form of love.“ A true treasure, It’s the kind of song you can play over and over again as you plunder the depths of its music, as well as its meaning.
But why play one track on repeat when you can indulge in an entire record’s shimmering glow? “Ricochet” finds the band dipping into harder grooves as they harness dynamic contrast, with great results: The song is another standout. The vivid “All Go Right” then shows just how much The Sea The Sea can do with quieter moments (hint: it’s a lot!).
Their words ring out with touching emotion; one need not know what brought this song to life, in order to understand its powerful depths. As From the Light nears its conclusion, The Sea The Sea allow themselves to trade in the super-catchy pop melodies for more intricate lyricism and musical intricacies. Songs “Gemini” and “Let It Be Said,” while slow and brooding, offer intense reflections on life.
“Take That” concludes From the Light with a heavy heart and weary smile. Encapsulating the warmth and rich musical articulations we’ve come to adore throughout the record, The Sea The Sea bid us farewell on a somber but hopeful note – leaving their listeners with a sense of mystic elevation and grounded contentment.
Ultimately, From the Light is exactly the sort of majestic, communal call-to-action our world needs in 2018. Its hauntingly beautiful music and profoundly moving lyrics strike a chord, resonating at a time where it can be so hard to see the light. It’s still there, though; all we need is someone to guide us in the right direction, and perhaps offer some perspective and brilliant harmony.
The Sea The Sea’s sophomore album From the Light is out now! Give the band a listen and be sure to catch them on tour this year – dates and more information below!