Unwed Sailor Underwater Over There Blue Oceania Vinyl Edition

Tulsa, Oklahoma's Unwed Sailor have been on a tear over thepast few years. Following a quiet phase through much of the2010s, they reëmerged with the aptly titled Heavy Age (2019),and two more full-lengths, Truth Or Consequences (2021)and Mute The Charm (2023), that chart a remarkable evolutionof their bass-led, pop-leaning post rock. On Underwater OverThere - their ninth LP overall - a current of 80s goth andjangle-pop runs beneath a litany of memorable hooks andcompositional left turns, creating a propulsive and intricateworld of sound.The band worked collectively on all elements of mixing andproduction to craft a meticulously layered environment, whilemaintaining an air of spontaneity and experimentation acrossthe set. Early standout, "Final Feather", drifts through varyinglandscapes of airiness and haze on a high-neck bass hook,while the hum of voices adds a contrast of angelic comfort.Bearing influence from New Order and The Cure in particular,its balance of gravitas and shimmer is the result of foundingmember Johnathon Ford's intuitive writing method: the leadbass line comes first, followed by supporting melodies, drums,guitars, keys, and final detailing."Dusty" is a prime example of this process, as Ford's powerful,low-end groove anchors a full-spectrum array of guitars, bells,and arpeggiations along with Matt Putman's energetic drumsection. Its fluid pacing provides a perfect establishing shot,with shifting moods that gather into a coda guided by DavidSwatzell's harmonized, glittering guitar riffs - a sunrise after amoonless night. In quick succession, "Blue Tangier" widensthe aperture with a pounding percussive refrain, vibrant basstone and an unforgettable, fuzzed-out melodic motif.Sprawling centerpiece, "Junko", is a loose callback to 2003'sThe Marionette and The Music Box, its deliberate stride andinterwoven melodies evoking the hands of a mechanical clock,and the anticipation of something long-awaited but nebulous. Itdrifts effortl...