Name: Underwater Over There
Brand: Unwed Sailor

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

CTS001LPC1

Colour

Blue

Colour details

Blue Oceania Vinyl

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2024-05-10

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Cargo

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

0792105762777

Total Cap

Blue LP

CTS001CD

0798576294496

Artist

Unwed Sailor

Genre GB

Alternative / Modern

Label GB

Current Taste 

Unwed Sailor’s ninth full length album over a 25 year Career. Founding member, Johnathon Ford, has played bass for Damien Jurado (Sub Pop / Secretly Canadian), Pedro the Lion (Barsuk / Polyvinyl), Rosie Thomas (Sub Pop), and other artists.&nbsp;

Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Unwed Sailor have been on a tear over the past few years. Following a quiet phase through much of the 2010s, they re-emerged with the aptly titled Heavy Age (2019), and two more full-lengths, Truth Or Consequences&nbsp;(2021) and Mute The Charm (2023), that chart a remarkable evolution&nbsp;of their bass-led, pop-leaning post rock. On Underwater Over There their ninth LP overall – a current of 80s goth and jangle-pop runs beneath a litany of memorable hooks and compositional left turns, creating a propulsive and intricate world of sound.

The band worked collectively on all elements of mixing and production to craft a meticulously layered environment, while maintaining an air of spontaneity and experimentation across the set. Early standout, “Final Feather”, drifts through varying landscapes 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 founding member Johnathon Ford ’s intuitive writing method: the lead bass 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 drum section. Its fluid pacing provides a perfect establishing shot, with shifting moods that gather into a coda guided by&nbsp;David Swatzell’s harmonized, glittering guitar riffs – a sunrise after a moonless night. In quick succession, “Blue Tangier” widens the aperture with a pounding percussive refrain, vibrant bass&nbsp;tone and an unforgettable, fuzzed-out melodic motif.

Sprawling center piece, “Junko”, is a loose callback to 2003’s The Marionette and The Music Box, its deliberate stride and interwoven melodies evoking the hands of a mechanical clock, and the anticipation of something long-awaited but nebulous. It drifts effortlessly from innocence to intrigue, expands into a mesmerizing howl, and vanishes abruptly into mist. While honouring their forebears in winks and nods, Unwed Sailor remain totally inimitable in their approach and style, twenty-five years into an acclaimed career. The band’s clear vision for Underwater Over There has yielded some of their most indelible work, and their inventive, passionate approach gives a strong sense of plenty more beyond the horizon.

For fans of Explosions in the Sky, New Order, Tycho, DIIV, M83, Mogwai, The Church, American Football, The Album Leaf, Sigur Ros, New Order, Tortoise, The Sea And Cake, The Cure, Cul de Sac, Do Make Say Think.

Underwater Over There 

Music GB

Discover Underwater Over There by Unwed Sailor. Unwed Sailor's ninth album showcases their evolution in bass-led, pop-leaning post rock. Available in various formats from Current Taste label.