The Sky is A Distance From The Sea (or TSIADFTS as it’ll be known from now on) is the debut album from Brighton-based James Brett, a new indie artist on the scene.
TSIADFTS features vocals that are seemingly well seasoned, despite the fact Brett is pretty new on the scene. It's the type of vocal that's difficult to explain, but definitely, a type that you'll find in many alternative rockers gone by and many still to come.
There’s something that feels comforting and homely in Brett’s music. It fits very safely in the indie genre with the signature sounds of the British indie scene. I would also say, being from near the area Brett is based in, it definitely fits the energy of a lot of music you'll find on the south coast of England. Straightforward, cynical, with a little bit of an edge to it.
Favourites from the album include ‘Too Much To Ask’, ‘In The Morning’ and ‘Epiphany’. Epiphany I particularly like because of the instrumental break featuring a melancholy guitar towards the end of the song. It was something a little different from the other tracks on the LP and therefore stood out. And what can I say, I’m a sucker for a good guitar solo.
What's especially thrilling about the album is that it gets better as it goes on. It’s almost as if Brett gets braver with each track, and by the end, you can tell a distinctive sound is being stepped in to.
You can imagine that TSIADFTS is an album that really takes it's best form when performed live. It's music you should be listening to with your friends and a pint from the bar. So, it really is unfortunate that this release came during a time when live music is pretty much a no-go. I would be surprised if Brett has a relatively long history of performing gigs in local venues, which is why the album has this to-be-performed-live sense about it.
The Sky Is A Distance From The Sea show a lot of potential in Brett’s music. It would be great to see a little more experimentation with vocals and sounds, but as a debut album made during the type of year 2020 has been, it holds up pretty well!
As previously said, the album gets better with every track, which makes whatever James Brett releases next something to watch out for.