ALBUM: British Sea Power 'Sea Of Brass'

Rating:

After a series of concerts last year accompanied by various brass bands around the UK, British Sea Power have turned the project into an album. Sea of Brass – a collection of 14 songs from the band’s entire catalogue – was recorded with award winning brass orchestra Foden’s Band, and acts as a reminder that British Sea Power don’t do things in half measures.

No strangers to experimentation – or working with brass bands, for that matter – British Sea Power pull off something that has the potential to be sickeningly pretentious, and make it sound natural. Though at times it is reminiscent of Disney’s Fantasia soundtrack, this is perhaps only an indication of quite how special the album is. It’s a spectacle, no doubt; think British Sea Power as they are, yet even grander. In fact, the only problem with the album seems to lie in just how good it is. It feels almost wrong listening to Sea of Brass through crappy laptop speakers; it is undoubtedly something that needs to be experienced live. It’s a spectacle, and so should only really be enjoyed as one.

When listening to Sea of Brass, it’s easy to forget that British Sea Power don’t always have a brass band. Whether this is down to flawless arrangement courtesy of Peter Wraight, or the band’s natural sound and eccentricism, it just works.

The album arguably gets a little sleepy at points; the lull of the vocals and the hypnotic nature of the brass band put a sort of spell on you. It’s a comfortable sleepiness, not a dull one, and bizarrely isn’t brought on by a dip in the power of the album, which never seems to waver.

As if after the album you needed one more reminder that British Sea Power don’t do half measures, ‘The Great Skua’ ends on an incredible crescendo. It’s one last burst of power to remind you that, even 12 years after the release of their first album, British Sea Power are still going strong. Though it’s difficult to know where to place the credit with this album, and I’d definitely rather witness it live than continue to listen on my laptop, it’s certainly a piece of art.

Sea Of Brass is released on 30th October via Golden Chariot Records.