Their name may be reminiscent of some off-beat Salinger story, but perhaps that’s just the right way to consider Chicago’s The Sea and Cake. The band serves up gentle, whimsical songs that are more thoughtful and literary than your standard indie fare.
The group’s self-titled album begins with the hypnotic and for lack of a more appropriate word, pretty, "Jacking the Ball,” which sets the tone for the rest of the album of ethereal sea inspired post-rock. Other lighthouses include the languid "So Long to the Captain," and “Showboat Angel,” an acoustic gemstone that is one of the album’s best tracks.
“Bring My Car I Feel to Smash It” introduces jazz vignettes that can be found in much of the arrangements. Such experimentation is earnest and affective, and never comes across as contrived. Comprised with lead singer Sam Prekop's melancholy vocals and his streaming lyricism, the album’s constant dichotomies are consistently interesting and fresh.
The album is airy and at times lo-fi, yet there is still complex instrumentation and a certain catchiness to prevent it from treading into new age territory. For a first album, the Sea and Cake offer a very mature and intriguing menu. For both its subtlety and bravery, the Sea and Cake’s hybrid debut is a welcomed arrival. |