The Sea

Is there anything shinier than a guitar through a chorus effect, a 12-string and an acoustic guitar playing in unison? Probably, you would only be able to get the same feeling by staring at the sun without your valued shades. Fast paced rhythms, overdriven basses and beautiful background vocals. They have dared to do it all: percussion arrangements, guitar solos, instrumental parts, harmony vocals… Maybe the bands from the C-86 movement will come to mind, something that the wonderful “Just Like Before” corroborates. Crystal-clear guitar lines may remind you of The Smiths as well. But let’s not forget The Feelies, or New Zealand’s kiwi-pop, or Postcard Records, or American power pop à la early The Last. The Sea greets you and then says goodbye, leaving the gift of 12 cuts with a distinct radio jingle feel, as fresh as taking a bath by the seashore rocks in the afternoon o having a glass of lemonade with lots of ice. As it was the case with Tasteless Peace, this is a feeling that contrasts with a set of lyrics that comes across as less summery, more metaphorical, inspired by Blai Bonet and his novel El Mar (“The Sea”, hence the album title) or Llorenç Villalonga. Lost opportunities and growing up in a world full of cowards seem to leave no other option than running away towards some uncertain location, but always forward.