I don’t know anyone from Iceland. What do Icelanders look like? I’m picturing white hair…maybe silver like tinsel. Steely blue eyes. Very pale and very thin, like Donny Wahlberg standing in his tighty whities in that creepy bathroom scene in Sixth Sense. Do they only eat fish? Do they give good high-fives? I bet they really know how to party (I actually know this to be true).
Seabear is an English singing Icelandic septet that recently released their sophomore album, We Build A Fire. They’ve been compared to Sufjan Stevens and Arcade Fire and despite those comparisons, I really like them. They give me that same feeling I got when I first listened to Great Lake Swimmers’ folk stunner, Ongiara. The vocals don’t standout because they blend into the stringed arrangements to join the fabric of each song. It’s an atmospheric album that might not stand out right away, but it will. It will slowly seep into your pores.
I regret missing this band at SxSW. I bet they give great hugs. I also regret that Shirk will be out of town this weekend, so we won’t be able to make a session happen with them. If you’re in Chicago, check them out at Schubas on Friday. We’ll be covering the show and would love to compare notes.
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Video: Seabear – I’ll Build You A Fire
Seabear – I’ll Build You A Fire from seabear on Vimeo.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I enjoyed listening to/watching the video and reading your review. I love discovering new music. Seems like I’ll be buying this album. Sad I missed them at SXSW as well. So hard to see all the amazing acts. This was my first year going to SXSW . . . what an experience. Thanks for sharing this.
This band is great! Great way to start your day