Review: Sea Power at Cambridge Junction
By Jacob Grattage
Alternative Rock group Sea Power performed at the Cambridge Junction on Wednesday, 16 April, as part of their Soundtracks Live tour.
The tour showcases the band’s work on soundtracks for films, documentaries, and video games.
They started the night off with True Adventures, a true classic from their 2005 album, Open Season. If there was ever a song to kick off with, it had to be this one.
The song perfectly introduced the band, with its transient atmosphere and sea of wailing instruments that almost threatened to drown out the vocals.
When the applause died down; the band’s frontman, Yan Scott Wilkinson, welcomed everyone to the gig in his typical laid-back fashion by simply asking: “Hi, are you all right?”
Yan oozed self-confidence all night. At one point feeling so comfortable in front of the crowd that he took off his shoes and played the remainder of the night without them.
The band continued playing other favourites, such as The Smallest Church In Sussex. This song had been adapted for their 2019 BAFTA Game Award-winning soundtrack featured in the Disco Elysium video game.
Users play as a drunken detective, who wakes up in a strange town with no memory of how he got there. The overall success of the video game has allowed the band to unlock new audiences.
Fans of all ages were present in the crowd - groups of teenage ‘zoomers’, millennials and generation X were together, crammed into the tight venue.
It was clear to see that the group have transcended generational divides with their songwriting.
Even with the false start on Fire Escape in the Sea, apparently caused by overuse of the smoke machine, it was definitely the standout song of the evening.
With Fire Escape in the Sea there was an instantaneous cutting of the tension in the air when those jangle pop-esque cords emitted from guitarist Martin Nobel’s guitar.
Pianist and cornetist Phil Sumner put up a valiant effort all night, somehow playing both his piano and cornet at the same time, one in each hand.
The brilliant Abi Fry, on viola (Yes, viola!) gave the whole performance a shine of authenticity as she skilfully transitioned between playing and providing backing vocals for the songs.
The crowd were entranced throughout the performance. It seemed that not one person was on their phone, which was refreshing, to say the least, and a great way to spend a Wednesday night.
The group have proven yet again that they are truly artisans of their craft. Live music sounds better with Sea Power.
For more on the band, go to seapowerband.com.
