seabear

The Ghost That Carried Us Away

This really is by far and away the finest thing Morr Music have released in a very long time and is, for our money, the label's best new signing ever. Lovers of Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine and classic skewed folkpop really owe it to themselves to check this amazing album out without delay - it's surely one of the year's best! Those good folk at Morr Music have always been quick to pounce on the finest talents to come from Iceland: both Mùm and Benni Hemm Hemm have benefited from the Berlin-based label's endorsement over the years, and Seabear look set to follow in that fine tradition with this totally gorgeous long-player. The band cut their teeth on a Tomlab split 7" they shared with Grizzy Bear, but "The Ghost That Carried Us Away" sees Seabear stepping out into the spotlight on their own terms with a lavish branch of folk-pop that just sounds classic from the first listen. Since the band's inception, Seabear has expanded from a solo project into a six-piece line-up, and while songwriter Sindri Mar Sigfusson is at the centre of the album, his band's ambitious arrangements lend an orchestral feel to proceedings. That's not to say Seabear are one of those epic post-rock troupes Iceland seem to be so good at producing, but they sure can step up their game when necessary. The effortless ensemble bliss of 'Cat Piano' benefits from glockenspiel, harmonica and a wealth of string instruments, all played with a heart-warming sense of team spirit, where nothing protrudes excessively from the mix. 'Libraries' is even better, boasting a female choir and a vocal melody that's somewhere between Elliott Smith and Dave Pajo. The album's unrelenting quality comes to a peak with 'Arms', a track that could have been taken from The Shins' "Chutes Too Narrow" album, such is Seabear's masterful knack with the poppier side of sophisticated Folk-Pop. Gorgeous stuff - ESSENTIAL PURCHASE!