When I received the new album Ghosts of The Horizon, from Perth natives The Holy Sea, I first assumed it was a debut. I was so blown away by what I heard that I couldn’t believe I’d never heard of them before. But low and behold, this was their third album (following on from Blessed Unrest and A Beginner’s Guide to the Sea) – so whatever this band has been doing to hide themselves away from my radar, they’ve been doing a good job of it. I even managed to miss a Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds recommendation via ATP 2009!
But hideaway no more! The Holy Sea have delivered one of the best Australian albums of the year, and I’ll be going out of my way to make sure they’re on YOUR radar, too. So, why so special? Let’s take a look at the album…
There’s a word I’m going to use quite often in this review: adventure. The nine tracks that make up Ghosts of The Horizon have been constructed in such a way as to take you on an adventure through the world of The Holy Sea. Think of some of those 10 minute tracks by The Decemberists. The Holy Sea have essentially created a 45 minute epic to rival “The Island: Come & See / The Landlord’s Daughter / You’ll Not Feel The Drowning”. In fact there’s plenty of similarities between the two – but I’ll leave that discovery and comparison to you.
The album sets off quite literally with the energetic “There Be Dragons Here”, a story of setting off on an adventure – “so come sailing with me!” – a search for rumoured dragons – a story that may have been whispered in the corner of a bar in the middle of who knows where, who knows when. It helps too, that the Australian drawl of lead singer songwriter Henry F. Skerritt makes for quite an apt ‘pirate storyteller’. “King of Palm Island” slows things slowing down a bit, with the drunken ballad “The Ten Rules” following closely behind – a song you can imagine chasing pint after pint with, as you sing the track with your mates. Just don’t sleep with the bar maid.
But the tables turn for track six, “The Seafarer”. What was at first an exhausting ride of singalongs and tales to rival Homer’s Odyssey, suddenly becomes an epic, beautifully constructed work that one needs to sit down to fully appreciate. I call this part: the hangover. Here, we find our storyteller has changed, with co-vocalist Emma Frichot taking reigns of the track, and we’re off on a new adventure. It’s this unexpected jolt of beauty that makes “The Seafarer” my favourite of the album. And as we move along, the closing track is the most epic of the lot – “Holy Holy”, featuring lyrics like “this time I’ll let you go…” allowing us to depart from the adventure we were set off such a short time ago. And now all it’s time to do is hit repeat.
One may argue that it’s far from consistent, but that’s what makes it such an trilling ride. I have no doubt this will translate beautifully live, and whether you’re a fan of the drunken singalong, the emotional ballad or a Decemberists concept album – this is definitely a band and an album for you.
Review Score: 9/10
Ghosts of The Horizon will be in stores in Late September.
[Header photo: Helen Radloff]
