Victories At Sea – A Place To Stay EP
Last Weekend Victories at Sea released their EP, A Place to Stay. Much as I admire and like their debut offering Everything Forever, (18 months ago — surely not?), I approached this selection of tunes with mild trepidation. You see over the past few years I have developed an obsession about the recorded work not coming up to scratch in comparison to the live performance. It seems to happen to loads of bands.. Maybe it’s the equipment or the way things are done in the studio these days. Their début was excellent but the live touch was missing.
I have had the pleasure of seeing, and hearing Victories At Sea Live. They generate a sound-scape that simultaneously takes me back to Comsat Angels at their peak, whilst dialling right into to 12st Century post rock. The band themselves cite their influences as bands from the Chemikal Underground label. I can see where they are coming from. I imagine their record collection with Aerogramme, The Phantom Band and De Rosa at the forefront. If so they are on a winner with me from the off as I will support Martin John Henry to his, or my, dying breath.
They also mention 4AD, and in terms of the atmospheric, Cathedral like echo that the band inhabits, they could be referring to any number of influences from that label’s cohort. Robin Guthrie could be manning the effects on this EP.
The five songs on the EP are the same but different; hard to describe clearly, yet almost familiar. Opener Litke gives you a taste of the tunes to come, combining a minimalist approach with the typical atmospherics. If I had to pick a favourite it would be the last tune Aldous: a post rock loop with almost plaintive vocals over the top and chiming guitars driving it along. All five are very close to their live sound that I remember which calms my mild mania, and shows how far the band have come since their debut.
As part of a mini tour Victories at Sea play their home gig at the Hare and Hounds this Saturday 13 May. Before you buy the EP go and see them live. An umbilical link to THISISTMRW means these guys know what live music is all about and venues all around the West Midlands, like Hare and Hounds, need and deserve our support.
Victories at Sea — A Place to Stay
Released 5th May on Static Caravan Records
Track listing:
Litke
Yellow Sky
Echoes
Mirroring
Aldous
Victories at Sea Live Dates:
Thursday 11 May – Newcastle Think Tank Underground
Friday 12 May – London Old Blue Last (FREE SHOW)
Saturday 13 May – Birmingham Hare and Hounds
Wednesday 17 May – Leeds Oporto
Friday 7 July – Manchester Castle Hotel
Sun 17 Sept – Beyond The Tracks Festival Birmingham w\ Editors, Slowdive