‘…through and through, this is an album that demands and deserves to be listened to as a complete body of work…’
Seahaven have never been a band to rush matters. Forming back in 2009, the band had released two records by 2014, and whilst they touted a third record by 2017, it wouldn’t be until November 2020 that ‘Halo Of Hurt’ would see the light of day. For the California emo outfit, the record represented a major shift in tone, with an experimental and progressive approach to indie rock that remains a deeply magical and haunting experience to behold to this day.
It would take yet another five years before Seahaven reemerged from the darkness, this time to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of their debut, ‘Winter Forever’. In the midst of these celebrations, the band would also announce their long awaited fourth record, simply titled ‘Seahaven’, led by driving emo cut ‘Long Goodbye’.
There is a sense of finality about this record; ‘Seahaven’ through and through feels like Seahaven reckoning with past mistakes, past loves, and past losses, glittering with bittersweet acceptance. The emo roots of the band remain present, but are streamlined in an indie rock manner, and decorated with a shimmering retro flair; the resulting sound is disarmingly simple yet cinematic, carrying a heavy emotive weight despite the levity of the soundscapes. There are no moments on ‘Seahaven‘ that will propel you from your chair with mind-blowing theatrics, but the record instead offers a wonderfully cohesive and contemplative experience that effortlessly retains your attention and rewards your invesement.
The moody and atmospheric electronics of introductory number ‘Godsend‘ permits the distinctive tones of Kyle Soto to shine through, setting the stage perfectly for the record proper. ‘Hellbound‘ layers gritty riffs and rich melodies atop of understated yet perfectly executed rhythms, whilst ‘Infinite Blue‘ features a superb use of sparseness and space, Eric Findlay’s percussion exiting to grant space for the glittering guitar work, before rejoining as a deep breath of spirited musicianship. Soto sings of feeling out of place with his lover and yearning for more with a painful sense of honesty and melancholy, never one to commit himself to the role of hero in his own story; there is a resonance and a sense of control to his vocals that only comes with maturity and experience, and it allows him to offer what are undoubtedly his finest performances to date.
‘February Flowers‘ again showcases a wonderful usage of space within the body of the track, guitars gently shimmering as they carve out compelling melodies whilst Soto sings of a deep sensation of feeling forgotten. The bridge offers immense, crashing drums that emerge like roaring waves from a stirring ocean, before the track plunges once more into another softly infectious chorus. ‘Highwire‘ is a dreamy sunset of a track, with looping chirps of synth and incredibly simple yet beautifully crafted acoustic guitar work sitting beneath brilliantly evocative lyricism (‘You took your time, the well ran dry/And now your garden is full of flowers you can’t save’). ‘Million Ways‘ oscillates between verses that feel like they belong on an 80’s coming of age movie, and freewheeling choruses that demand an open stretch of freeway to cruise down.
‘Long Goodbye’ offers a brilliant slice of original Seahaven magic, with Soto’s distinctive vocals carving out infectious melodies atop of a spirited, buoyant emo instrumental. The record resolves from here out with ‘Wedding Bells’ and ‘Companion’, offering a strikingly bittersweet and vulnerable climax as Soto writes from a dark place of isolation and loneliness. ‘Companion’ stands out in particular thanks to the beautifully executed mirroring of ‘Godsend’ through its musicality; you are thoroughly rewarded for choosing to dedicate your time to ‘Seahaven’.
‘Seahaven‘ is not a singles record; through and through, this is an album that demands and deserves to be listened to as a complete body of work. There exists both the devastation that lies in endings and the acceptance of their very existence across the span of this record, and whilst Seahaven are not here to promise a happy ending to all things, they are here to remind that sometimes simply surviving is what truly matters. The band have aimed for this to be the definitive Seahaven record, and whilst ‘Halo of Hurt‘ remains something truly special, it is difficult to argue that this is anything but the definite experience.
One can only hope that the finality that echoes through this record does not stretch to the band themselves; Seahaven still feel like a band with a world of art to give. But should ‘Seahaven‘ be their ending, then they have gone out on quite the beautiful note indeed.
RATING: 78/100
For Fans Of: Have Mercy, Balance and Composure, Fireworks, Carly Cosgrove, A Place For Owls
Physical copies are available to purchase here.
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