The Sea and I

The Sea and I were formed by Irwin Sparkes and Paul Firth and has a core of four members, though that will fluctuate according to the needs of the songs and venues etc.

The first thing you notice on The Great I Am track is how big it is with the brass deftly mixed into the sound. It’s pop music at its heart though teasing with its conventions, it’s a shimmering delight. That’s followed by The Island, which after its funereal intro settles into a bright multi-layered song, strong on melodies and harmonies. Again the brass is there, though maybe a little intrusive this time.

The Legend of Bass Reeves slows the pace a little. It is a beautifully arranged piece of music. With the piano at the core, the band build a spiralling song that maybe doesn’t quite deliver. The Spectator closes the EP on a more sinister note; the guitars are in Latin/Morricone mode to start with, though these are submerged as the song progresses by a barrage changes and instruments, that eventually lead back to the intro. It’s an interesting and complex, though cluttered sounding piece of music.

There’s no shortage of ideas on this EP and if some don’t quite work, there’s another that does. The airy vocals are easy on the ear, and seem almost an afterthought. At the moment there’s a lot to admire about The Sea and I, maybe not quite so easy to warm to them though.