Artist: Sea Wolf
Title: White Water, White Bloom
Genre: Folk Rock / Folk / Indie Rock / Alternative
Release Date: 12th November 2010
Label: DevilDuck
Album Review
SEA WOLF is a band gathered around Alex Brown Church and his vision of beautiful Folk Rock compositions with ballad-like melodies and rich melancholy texture. There’s also many more instruments here - woodwinds, organ, clash cymbals to bring the layered orchestration in. ‘White Water, White Bloom’ is a third album which continues and expands the concepts of the other two. It takes you through the trajectory of a year’s seasons with their moods and themes - visual and emotive in terms of wistfulness, yearning and pitfalls of love and life.
If I were to say who the musical cousins are - RAY LAMONTAGNE, 16 HORSEPOWER, THE BLACK HEART PROCESSION and ARCADE FIRE come to mind. Of course that this band was to be more melodic alternative to BRIGHT EYES should be mentioned here too. SEA WOLF’s lyrical input is yet another strength of the album; they are as detailed as the song-writing, cinematic narrative and imagery, the great story telling that belongs to the best of the Folk tradition is definitely present here in abundance, some may dislike the profusion of poetic expressions too but each to their own. The production of the sound was great as well; the music comes out as crystal clear and unblemished. The ensemble of musicians changes around Alex Brown Church but what is noteworthy is that the whole never suffers for it, and the choice seems to be perfectly apt and compliments the creations with skilled approaches.
Strangely enough since I dislike winter with a passion, the ‘winter’ time of the album is probably the one I’d point out any time I’d listen to it, especially ‘Winter Windows’ - there’s a pervading feeling of sadness but also there’s a touch of defiance balancing it, strong and engaging song, the accordion creates another trait of the song to appreciate. Church also proves himself not to have only a good voice but that he is in a wonderful and sure command of it. From the other ‘season’ songs ‘Orion & Dog’ carries a subtle quietness but nevertheless has an underlying intensity, the strings here are quite beautiful. The next one ‘Turn The Dirt Over’ - again shows the strength of melodic line and great lyrical descriptiveness, echoes of TOM PETTY can be heard there too. Whilst the album cannot be said to herald pioneering wave in the genre nevertheless ‘White Water, White Bloom’ is a pleasant, enjoyable and rewarding album.
Tracklist
01. Wicked Blood – 4.25
02. Dew In The Grass - 4.24
03. Orion & Dog – 3.49
04. Turn The Dirt Over – 2.59
05. O Maria! – 4.00
06. White Water, White Bloom – 4.29
07. Spirit Horse – 3.53
08. The Orchard – 3.26
09. The Traitor – 4.17
10. Winter’s Heir – 4.25
11. Winter Windows – 3.51
12. You’re A Wolf – 3.55
Line-up
Alex Brown Church – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
Theodore Liscinski – bass
Lisa Fendelander – keyboards
Joey Ficken – drums
Mike Mogis – lead guitar
Nathan Walcott – cello
Websites
http://www.seawolfmusic.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/seawolf
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 9
Total: 8 / 10
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