Through A Dark Wood
Dangerbird, 2020
9/10
Sea Wolf return with their first record since 2014, and it’s their most personal one to date, where themes surround relationships, loss, current events, and, most importantly, holding onto hope through all the pitfalls of life.
After the light and airy opening of the atmospheric “Forward”, “Blood Pact” follows with a shimmering quality of post-rock as smooth vocals from Alex Brown Church complement the agile and anthemic setting.
Closer to the middle, “Fear Of Failure” brings the listen into indie-pop territory and moves with a cautious approach that brings to mind the greatness achieved by Matt Pond, while “Back To The Wind” takes on a moodier tone where plenty of careful melodies unfold amid the dynamic instrumentation.
Some of the best tunes reside closer to the end, including the angular and rhythmic “Under The Spell Again”, as well as “Moving Colors”, where proficient percussion helps the tune glide with a timeless demeanor. “Two Of Us” finishes off the listen vibrant and memorable, with a chorus you won’t forget anytime soon.
Church and company have crafted a stunning album here, where a string quartet and drum machines help flesh out the poetic and cathartic stories that are undoubtedly a career highlight in an already glowing catalog of records.
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