‘A stranger is just a friend I don’t know.’ Ok, that is a cheesy, touching and somewhat schmaltzy sentiment of which to begin a music review but it is ultimately fitting way to begin this particular look into a very exciting EP.
Coil Sea is simply a coming together of a bunch of friends and acquaintances who just wanted to turn up, plug in and play. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t just some random jam session but a careful orchestrated set of tracks with musicians pooled in from excellent acts such as; Arbouretum, Big In Japan and The Anomoanon. What blossoms out of this culmination of talent are four tracks of quite incredible raw emotion and fervour that is really deserving of your attention and adulation.
The EP begins in a grand fashion with the compelling ‘Abyssinia’. This track has that uncanny knack of being able to stimulate the neurons and synapses in the brain that cause the foot to begin to tap and accompany the hypnotic beat that is being provided for by the drums. One thing you will come to understand instantly with this band is that these are artists that do not believe in the conventional structure of a song. They are very content and happy to make a song run its course for however long it takes rather than being shackled by the limits of a 4 minute rock effort.
It has to be stated that if Coil Sea decided to perform as a live unit, they would not go wrong by starting with the first track. It feels almost like a invitation to a musical journey that you understand the band is undertaking with you. On my first listen of this EP, I could not help but feel it sounded like The Who swirling around in a maelstrom of 80s electronica and what the outcome was, was a very experimental and elaborate sound.
The second track, ‘Dolphins In The Coil Sea’ emanates and resonates a feeling to the listener that it is heralding a gathering to a celebration of music and the creationism of sound. As soon as the toms on the drums ring out, as well as being accompanied by striking guitar notes, the song takes on the form of a tribal gathering where you have the pleasure of hearing this band ply their trade and showcase their art to some esoteric deity. As for all of the tracks on this album, one thing I admire about this EP is that lyrics do not need to be the vehicle of the song. Every instrument is given it’s chance to shine and it seems more like a mutual partnership than a band.
This ambience is certainly felt in ‘Revert To Dirt’ where it is clear that every band member and instrument is on an equal footing in the mix. There is no such thing as vying for position in Coil Sea, just that pursuance for the warmest sounds. A quarter of the way through the song, the beat changes to an slithering shuffle that is embellished by good use of guitar effects, all of which culminates in a very dream like quality.
The final track, ‘Waking The Naga’ definitely begins with a purpose. This is the definitive track that really indicates that this is the crescendo of the journey that shows how far these strangers have come in creating some musical brilliance. The music feels like a rolling electronic wave siphoning its way through your very senses and leaves you with a very warm feeling as the final dulcet tones of the EP cascade out of the sound system.
If I was to advise on anything this month, I would definitely urge you to check this group out and stress that sometimes all you need is a feast of friends to develop a feast of music that will no doubt incite your interest and definitely acknowledge what this act is going to come up with next.
Words : Barclay Quarton
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