Interview and album stream | By The Sea

“We hope it sounds like a series of failed Springsteen anthems played with too many chorus pedals. That is the theme.”

Thus spake The Wirral’s most promising newcomers, By The Sea. We don’t really know what it means, but the eponymous debut is certainly a hypnotic adventure through as many distortion pedals as the lads could get their hands on. In essence, it’s adroitly executed dream-pop which sails away on a wash of tripped-out noise populated by breathy vocals. Like masters of the genre, Beach House, the beauty is in the detail – from the understated echoes on the voice, to some gloriously indulgent reverb. Completing the fluffy sonic jigsaw are muted Casio tones undulating beneath the 60’s surf rock riffs, and some delightful Lost in Space-type synths. It’s music for late night discussions through smoky air. We reeled these space cadets in for a fleeting chat before they drifted off once again into the ether…

Hello, please introduce yourself and your music to the uninitiated.

Hi we’re By The Sea. We play pop music with too many reverb and chorus pedals.

Tell us a bit about your latest release?

Our debut LP is being released on 12/11 by Dell’Orso (CD) and Great Pop Supplement (LP)

What was your best ever gig?

Probably a show we played in a pub in Stoke Newington. Alan Davies, AKA Jonathan Creek, TV detective and duffle coat extraordinaire, turned up, but left because we weren’t macabre or mysterious enough.

What’s the worst thing about being a musician?

Lifting amps.

What inspires you?

80’s indie rock from Australia and 90’s pop music from Wales.

If you won a billion pounds what would you do with it?

Build a studio and live in it. On our own tropical island. Made of Gold.

Which of your songs is your favourite and why?

The last one we wrote, because we’re not bored of it yet.

What are you plans for the future?

LP2, touring, saving for our golden and tropical island.

Finally, we’re always looking to expand our musical horizons. Do you have any recommendations of bands or artists we should be looking out for?

Tear Talk and Minnetonka. Both super exciting bands from the North West who we are looking forward to hearing more from in 2013.

Stream By The Sea