Coffee House Anarchists – Separated by the Sea (Pt 2) (2022)
Coffee House Anarchists continue the journey of their new album with Separated by the Sea (Pt 2) as they bring a darker feeling to the tracks. We previously spoke to them about the first EP of this two-part release, Separated by the Sea (Pt 1), which blended traditional folk with modern sensibilities. Through the tracks of this EP, the band layers pounding drums over twisted vocals, that churn the waves of the sea that resounds through each note.
While there has been a touch of indie-pop and post-punk in their previous releases, this EP takes a step away from this to flood the tracks with folk. Across the tracks, they draw you into the story of the collection, while showcasing what they have to offer. Catchy and cinematic, the EP captures the excitement of the last and takes it to new heights.
The title track ‘Separated by the Sea’ opens the EP with a delicate touch. The piano lightly taps against your senses, while the guitar creates the fog that rests over the ocean in the early morning. The lapping sound of ocean waves adds to the watery soundscape. The vocals wisp across your skin like the chill of the early morning that slowly turns warm as the day and single continues. There is a really expansive feeling to this opening track that delicately draws you into the beauty of the music. It is a touching opening track that sets the tone for the EP, while tugging at your emotions. The sighing backing vocals adds richness to the soundscape as you feel the emotions of the track settle in your chest.
‘On & On’ brings a completely different sound with heavier rock drums that soar out into the stratosphere. There is a pounding of drums that pushes at the back of your brain. The endless feeling of the drums meets the distorted vocals that twist through the melody. This track is a masterclass in layered distortions and driving beats that propel you into the lyrics and vocal performance. There is a plea woven into the lyrics, but this has a strange feeling to it, almost like it is a trap you might be walking into. The dark feelings of the EP really start to make themselves known through this track, while the melody keeps you hooked to the sound.
The strummed guitar of ‘ΑΩ’ brings the reaching tones of the opening track back to the EP. There is a grounded and earthy feeling to this track that really comes through with the vocals. The drums pound with a folky tone through the low levels and seem to reverberate against your ribcage. The vocals are borderline spoken word as they bring the poetry of the verses to life. This turns into a more melodic flow on the chorus as the backing vocals form a cushion for the main vocal line to rest on. There is a lot being brought to light in the lyrics and it is worth really taking the time to listen to what they have to say. They seem to reflect on the world at large while also considering something much closer to home.
The EP comes to an end with ‘It Is Well Within My Soul’ which relaxes your spirit from the first note. The light strum of the acoustic guitar has a folky beach feeling that lifts troubles and stress from your shoulders. As the vocals enter, they have a sea folk feeling to them that makes you think of the endless blue of the ocean and the light lapping of waves. It is a really gentle sound that touches on darker topics, only to turn them into something positive and light. The traditional folk edge to the lyrics adds to the overall chilled vibes of the song, while making you want to sing along or close your eyes and soak up the vibes.
Coffee House Anarchists bring a darker edge to their sea folk tones, before turning everything into chilled and light vibes in Separated by the Sea (Pt 2). Each track has a very different feeling, from layered rock to traditional folk. Not only does the instrumentation vary, but the vocals change like the mercurial nature of the ocean.
Find out more about Coffee House Anarchists on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
