A Constant Sea

A Constant Sea is the debut album by American psychedelic/alternative rock band Heliotropes. It was released 18 June 2013 on Manimal Vinyl. The album's musical style ranges from alternative rock to a more melodic folk rock sound. The album follows on from various singles that they released and their tour with Esben and the Witch.

A Constant Sea
Studio album by
Heliotropes
Released18 June 2013
Recorded2012–2013
GenreAlternative rock, Psychedelic rock, Acid rock, Folk metal
LabelManimal Vinyl
ProducerJeff Berner
Singles from A Constant Sea
  1. "Ribbons"
    Released: 2011
  2. "Moonlite"
    Released: 29 May 2012
  3. "The Dove"
    Released: 11 September 2012

Background and recording

Heliotropes formed in 2009 by Jessica Numsuwankijkul and Amber Myers when Numsuwankijkul posted an advert on Craigslist, initially trying to find musicians to perform Brian Eno-style music, but they found this to hard.[1] They played a show with Astrid Pierce and one of the members, Cici Harrison, eventually joined the band a year later. On the subject, Numsuwankijkul said "I remember being like, “Oh, we wish she was in our band" and then a year later, she was." [1] Nya Abudu answered the advert on Cragslist and the line-up was complete. They began to form their sound, instead of playing Eno-style songs.[1]

The band signed to Manimal Vinyl in 2012 and released various single, three of which would appear on their first album. The album was recorded between 2012 and 2013. The title of the album comes from a song originally titled "A Constant Sea", but they didn't have enough time to record it.[1]

Packaging

The album cover features artwork by Nor Ashraf, a Malaysian artist that the band met over the internet. Numsuwankijkul said that once she'd seen it she thought that it would always be the album cover. She also said she sees it as a follow up to the "Ribbons" cover, taken by Koen Jacobs of a Ram who had just finished drinking some water.[1]

Release

After the recording, they went on their first US tour with Esben and the Witch.[2][3] The band released a new song titled "Psalms" as a free download on the Rolling Stone website.[4] They later on announced their song "Quatto".[5] Both tracks were to be released on the band's debut album, A Constant Sea. A Constant Sea was released on 18 June 2013 on Manimal Vinyl as a digital download, but limited vinyl versions are to come soon.[6]

Critical reception

Spin Magazine gave the album an 8/10 rating. Bowlegs Music made the album their record of the day saying that "A Constant Sea isn’t the sound of a band that met both only four years ago and in a completely different musical guise. It sounds like a group of long-time friends playing the music that they love, and playing it very well," giving it 8.4 and Allmusic said "Those who make it through the assault of riffs and overall detached feel of much of the record will be treated to obscured gems like "Christine," a near-perfect album closer that revisits moonlit '50s balladry through a Mazzy Star lens."[7][8]

Track listing
  1. Early in the Morning – 4:07
  2. Psalms – 4:12
  3. Everyone Else – 3:01
  4. Moonlite – 4:16
  5. Good and Evil – 3:54
  6. Ribbons – 4:23
  7. Quatto – 4:56
  8. The Dove – 4:46
  9. I Walk Upon the Water – 4:22
  10. Unadorned – 3:20
  11. Awake – 4:24
  12. Christine – 4:01

Personnel

Jessica Numsuwankijkul – vocals, guitar
Amber Myers – tambourine, vocals
Nya Abudu – bass
Cici Harrison – drums

Jeff Berner – producer, engineering, mixing, additional instrumentation

References
  1. "On and off the record with Heliotropes". Impose magazine. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  2. "Instagram Photos". Facebook. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  3. "Timeline Photos". Facebook. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  4. "'Psalms' by Heliotropes – Free MP3". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  5. "Listen: Heliotropes' "Quatto"". CMJ. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  6. "Heliotropes are playing at Glasslands Gallery". Manimal Vinyl official Facebook page. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  7. "A Constant Sea review". Bowlegs Music. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  8. "A Constant Sea review". All Music. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
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