Matt Ayres meets a dream pop band with an ocean of talent

Dream pop band The Sea The Sea are new to Oxford, both musically and geographically. Forming last summer but only getting into gear this spring with the addition of new members, none of the band are from the area originally, having all gravitated here from their respective homes of Northamptonshire, Staffordshire, Brighton and Hull to live, work and make great music.

Asked to describe his band’s signature sound, founding member Danny Crane-Brewer is hardly short for words. “There’s quiet bits, loud bits, guitars that sound like synths, synths that sound like guitars and a drummer playing a glockenspiel,” he gushes.

“We all like music with a lush and interesting sound, with plenty of dynamics, and above all a great song at its core.”

Comparison-wise, The Sea The Sea have drawn influence from a range of modern and classic indie acts, ranging from Wild Beasts to The Cure. They’re right at home in Oxford, then, where this super-cool brand of alternative music was put on the map by the likes of Radiohead and Foals.

Danny agrees: “Oxford has legendary musical lineage but there are plenty of great bands doing their thing here and now who are worth checking out. For such a small place it punches above its weight in terms of the bands it produces.”

listen to ‘The Oxford Mail talk about The Sea The Sea - the Winter’ on Audioboom

 

The band have made talented friends locally in sound masters Tim Roberts and Kit Monteith, who work at the go-to recording spot for local acts, Safehouse in St Clements. “Their input really helped to shape those first recordings,” Danny says, talking of the Four Demos EP that was released online earlier in the year. “We also rehearse at Warehouse Studios. “They have been amazing to us and always go the extra mile.”

Next on the agenda for the band is a gig this Sunday at Oxford’s Old Fire Station, in George Street, where they will play with indie popsters Kill Murray and folky trio Freada.

Expect to hear tracks from the upcoming release Sub-Rosa, out on October 7.

Buy tickets for the show for £7 from wegottickets.com, or at the door on the night.