Brighton’s Shore Dive Records have come up trumps again with the new compilation release from Sea of Days. Started back in 2022, Sea of Days is the solo project from multi-instrumentalist Shane Speed. After years away from music a bout of bad health and the discovery of a heart condition spurred him on to create once again. This led to the release of his debut album, Adrift, where he took the name Sea of Days. This latest project finds him releasing a series of EP’s themed around the elements. The Water / Air EP is the first two ‘Elements’ EPs bundled together. On choosing the elemental theme Speed had this to say.
“I started making music again a few years ago after being diagnosed with a heart condition. I had an operation and the recovery was a slow process and though I couldn’t record vocals due to breathlessness it led to me focusing on the songwriting process. In this productive time, I noticed a theme of nature coming through the songs. The re-evaluation of life due to illness had focused me on what was important in life and nature had become a source of comfort in the recovery, particularly walks in the country and by the sea.”
“I wrote down the four elements down on a sheet of paper and strangely there seemed to be two songs about each of the elements, water, air, earth and fire. I then wrote an instrumental piece for each element using field recordings as the basis for each track. And the elements series then had a format.”
The EP opens on the dreamy ‘Float Away’. A simple guitar motif over tumbling vocals eases us in and welcomes us to this experience. However, it’s when the bass suddenly hits double time that the chorus blooms in this sumptuous ascending melody. Speed captures that feeling of gazing out over sun dappled water, the well being washing over you as you breathe in the briny air. I really identified with this track as a coast dweller myself.
‘Barefoot on the Ice’ next, an undoubted allegory for the uncertainties of life, is a more measured and deliberate song. The vocal delivery assured and warm. The chorus sneaks in almost unannounced. When your delivery is this dead on you can let the melody speak for itself. In this case the melody is magnificent.
The first of our instrumentals follows with ‘Not Drowning But Waving’. The field recorded waves lapping on the shore ushering in an exultant slow burner. I love how this one builds into a majestic, layered epic. A fine way to close out the Water EP.
It’s into the Air EP next with ‘Flying High’. A song contemplating on the perspective looking down on earth from an aeroplane window. “We are so privileged looking down. On the one home we all have to share.” The lyrics are truly observational and wholly relatable. The production, again, is grand and has the sense of altitude or space in it.
‘Moon’ is something different, a stream of consciousness delivery against a velvety soundscape. Multi layered guitars shine through a haze of feedback and fuzz. We find ourselves on a moonlit walk with Speed as he laments on how connected we all truly are but there remains that distance that disconnects us. That regret is palpable in each chord change and that’s what makes this so impactful. Music and lyrics in simpatico.
The second instrumental closes out this compilation. ‘Above the Clouds’ is described as “A track evoking the feeling you get when flying. Looking down rather than up to see clouds is disorientating but beautiful.” There’s an otherworldly feeling evoked from the juxtaposition of the hypnotic chord sequence and the wailing lead guitar. It perfectly captures the oddness you feel staring at the top of the clouds at altitude.
These first two EPs of the Elements Series are like little windows into the songwriter’s soul. There is a real comfort and solace in music. In our hardest times music has a way of lifting us back up, giving us a second wind and sending us on our way. This collection has a cathartic air that is so relatable and inclusive. You feel like you are welcomed into the world of Sea of Days where Speed knows us and takes us with him on his journeys. What a gift that is to give.
Great news, the Earth EP is out digitally on 24 May and Fire will be out the following month with the plan to collect these 2 releases together for a digital release on Shore Dive Records.
Meanwhile, the Water/Air EPs are available on CD now from Shore Dive Records Bandcamp page.
You can follow Sea of Days on social media here…
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