Sea Girls, Under Exit Lights EP
Polydor Records
Sea Girls fans, some of the most adoring, are definitely some of the most trustworthy too. The London four-piece have sold out countless shows, charmed massive festival crowds, and yet the lengthiest release the band have ever put out has been just four songs long, filling gaps with the odd single – until now. Under Exit Lights, at six songs long, is by Sea Girls standards practically a double album, and all the tantalising that’s led up to today has paid off, big time.
Under Exit Lights consists half of songs we’ve already heard: the electric Violet, the instantly-catchy and vulnerable Ready For More, and (it seems ages ago!) the sparkly song of the summer, Closer. Sea Girls definitely set the bar high for UEL with their earlier releases, but did we ever doubt they’d live up to it? Not for a second.
Of the three new tracks, and in typical Sea Girls style, we’ve got two utter bangers, and one that slows it down a bit. Why Won’t You Admit follows opener Ready For More – hard one to chase up, right? Not to worry, with its syncopated riff, pre-chorus with endless singalong appeal that seems written for mosh-pits to be pulled back to and a launch into a chorus that’s got Sea Girls’ unfailing sound of pure joy stamped all over it, Why Won’t You Admit will have you in love with them – and definitely admitting it!
EP closer Soldier On is similarly catchy: kicking off with a beat and bassline that dips further into the groovy moodiness than Sea Girls ever have before, it soon explodes into an anthem of pushing forward, soldiering on. It’s an ode to being young, and thriving in amongst all the pain and strife that lives in everyone. Of course, as ever, a more challenging topic is dealt with by throwing in the most expertly penned upbeat choruses and a healthy dose of defiant positivity – the best way to do it.
Sea Girls are fantastic at writing tracks guaranteed to get a crowd moving. It’s undeniable. But they’ve also got a handful of tracks that are stunning down the other end of the spectrum, heart-warming and reflective. Previously released fan-faves Adored and Daisy Daisy are followed on Under Exit Lights by the beautiful Timeless – stripped back to an acoustic guitar, frontman Henry Camamile’s soulfulness and magically effective lyrical simplicity sets him among musical masters of storytelling, echoes of Sam Fender in his arena-sized yet authentic and gentle delivery. Sticking with the theme of navigating youth that’s underpinned the whole EP, Camamile sings of ‘drinking Heineken’ and listening to Friday I’m In Love, setting up a gorgeously evocative scene for the Timeless relationship he’s singing about. “We might be young, we might be young, but we’ve got something timeless, something timeless going on.” – if you’re excited to stick your phone torch in the air and shed a tear singing back at Sea Girls on their tour this April, this is the line you’ve been waiting for.
With the release of Under Exit Lights, Sea Girls have only strengthened the arsenal of indie-rock gold they’ve got to pick their setlist from – and given how passionate the new stuff is, it’ll certainly be special hearing it live for the first time.
Under Exit Lights is out now, and remaining tickets for tour are available here.
