Today we have the pleasure of premiering a lock-stock-and-barrel loaded debut album from post-punk rising star The Sea At Midnight. Hailing from Chicago originally, since making the move westwards several years ago, the project’s mastermind Vince Grant has made Los Angeles his home.This is an ambitious and superbly delivered first long-play on his part, fusing indie rock, synthpop and the best elements of the post-punk tradition. It will be interesting to hear the material he continues to release following this album and we are all ears.
This 8-track collection was recorded in Los Angeles, where Grant currently resides. Produced and mixed by Chris King of Cold Showers and with Brandon Pierce of Glaare contributing drums, The Sea at Midnight project represents a new direction for Grant’s music, accumulated and packaged with love in this debut long-play.
Inspired by classic postpunk bands like The Cure, Joy Division, the Psychedelic Furs, Siouxsie and the Banshees, New Order and Echo and the Bunnymen, Grant bought his first guitar at 23 and played in various Chicago bands before eventually moving to Los Angeles.
Vince Grant bounced back and forth between New York and LA for a number of years, playing and singing in numerous bands, working various jobs, and grappling with drug addiction and alcoholism. He finally settled on life in L.A. after sobering up and making a serious attempt at dealing with his lifelong depression.
“Musically the songs spring from my love of the music of the early postpunk pioneers, although I approached each song individually to allow it to express itself in its own way to come up with, for lack of a better term, a sort of The Sea At Midnight sound. Lyrically the songs are deeply personal often times revolving around the themes and my experiences of dealing with alcohol and drug addiction and coping with depression,”says Vince Grant.
“This release was never supposed to happen. I thought my days of playing in bands and recording were over. If it weren’t for fate, this record would have never been made. I had no intentions of recording ever again. I suppose there is a strong element of sadness to my songs, but I also feel they contain a glimmer of hope.”
As of November 6, ‘The Sea at Midnight’ LP will be released everywhere digitally and also via Spotify. It can also be obtained directly via Bandcamp (with 6 instant gratification tracks) at https://theseaatmidnight.bandcamp.com/album/the-sea-at-midnight
