Sea Power, Albert Hall. 23rd April 2022

Sea Power are another funny one for me. A band that when I listen to, I really enjoy but I’ve never really fallen head over heels for. Aside that Man of Aran soundtrack, that is gorgeous, please release that on a lovely slab of vinyl as soon as possible. There’s nothing from Aran tonight, that score wouldn’t really fit in the set, but we do get a lot from the brilliant new album ‘Everything Was Forever’. The first half of the set is full of it, with a few older classics peppered in. This is thing about Sea Power, they’ve been around a while and have a surprisingly eclectic catalogue, but much of it I’m not that familiar with. They’re a great live band though, like a poppier version of Sigur Ros in places and a full on indie storm the next. Full of big sweeping sounds and catchy tunes. It’s ‘Transmitter’ that really lights the touch paper for me. These new songs have a huge sound and the fill the glorious Albert Hall with grand sweeping epic bombast beautifully. It’s music to get lost in and I do, completely. At this point it’s worth mentioning support band Pale Blue Eyes, who also deal in epic sweeping sonic lushness. They’re quite an eye opener. There’s plenty of tenderness too, helped by the falsetto vocals, but when they let loose, crikey they’re majestic. I’ll definitely be looking to catch them again. Back to Sea Power who dial things up with ‘Two Fingers’ channelling their inner Simple Minds, singer Scott (or Yan to the initiated) delivering triumphantly with those breathy vocals, the entire place singing every word back at him. The band don’t give much away but they look like they know they’ve brought the room together. Locking into Arcade Fire like grooves and Jamesesque euphoria. Certainly down the front where I’m stood. Sea Power fans are very enthusiastic and quite raucous, surprising for a band like this, that have got half a garden centre on stage with them. Some of the slower songs work better on record though and there’s a couple of lulls mid-set. It’s still pleasant though, with six of them on stage, it’s a lovely warm and full sound. ‘Green Goddess’ and ‘Doppelgänger‘ sound huge, the latter being the darkest song in the set, which probably explains why it’s my favourite. You can feel the floor bounce during ‘No Lucifer’ and it doesn’t let up from here. This is what they’ve been building toward. One fella near us loses a shoe, triumphantly finds it again and then the crowd surfing starts. It’s so hot, the plants on stage are wilting. As am I, but it’s okay, by the end everyone’s hugging, holding one another up. As they finish with ‘The Great Skua’ I’m running out of superlatives. I thought they‘d be good, but I wasn’t expecting that. Great band. Great fans!