Seapony's clear and starry "A Vision"

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Once among the biggest buzz bands around, Seapony burst on the scene with their debut EP Dreaming in 2010. The mini-album was released at the height of the new wave of jangle-pop / surf-pop that was sweeping the indie music landscape, as newcomers like Real Estate and Best Coast were finding immediate success. Three albums – two full-lengths and another EP – followed in short succession and long, ambitious tours followed. The weight of building and sustaining the band’s success grew and eventually wore down the then trio of frontwoman Jen Rowland (nee Weidl), her partner and guitarist Danny Rowland, and bassist Ian Brewer, and the band called timeout to reassess and recharge.

After a two-year break, Seapony return with a different composition and a refreshing outlook and sound. They’ve added percussionist Aaron Voros for their third LP, A Vision, and now as a fully composed band they’ve created an album that is among the most inviting of the year. Like their previous records, Weidl’s whispery, dainty voice captivates in the same manner as Hope Sandoval while Rowland’s jangly guitar playing is the palette for the band’s lush sound. “Coudn’t Be”
exemplifies the Seattle-based quartet’s dreamy jangle-pop with the brilliant harmonies of Weidl and Rowland’s light surf riffs. The Real Estate-esque “Bad Dream” and the title track further demonstrate Seapony’s ability to transform lo-fi pop into something truly gorgeous.

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Seapony, however, don’t stay focused on creating acoustic-laden, surf-pop songs. Instead, they build on their foundations to create more summery and infectious indie-pop tracks. The opener, “Saw the Light”, for instance, has a quicker pace and a “boppier” vib, making it an ideal track to spin during these end-of-summer days. The quickened and stunning “Let Go”; the breathtaking “In Heaven”; and the psychedelic-surf-pop gem “A Place We Can Go”, which resounds with the beauty of Sarah Bethe Nelson’s brilliant debut from earlier this year, further showcase the band’s move towards more of an indie-pop feel on the album. And while incorporating more classic pop arrangements could lead to detrimental results, the additions are most welcome to give the album more vibrancy and to complement the band’s more sullen and contemplative numbers, such as the outstanding Mazzy Starr-esque “Hollow Moon”.

While Seapony’s A Vision isn’t reinventing indie-pop music, the album represents a welcome refinement from their past efforts. It is an album that is engaging and at times immensely stunning. It represents a band that has taken the time to fully assess its past and future, and now its vision is crystal clear with A Vision being the fantastic first step to its achievement.

A Vision is available now. Purchase it at Seapony’s Bandcamp page, iTunes, Amazon, and eMusic. You can also hear the entire album on SoundCloud.

Website – seaponyband.com
Facebook – Seapony band
Twitter – @seaponyband

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