One Track Mind

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Sindri Már Sigfússon is easily one of the most overlooked and under-appreciated artists operating in the indie realm these days. In 2007, his solo project-turned-septet Seabear released their debut album, the ghost that carried us away, on Germany’s exceptional Morr Music label. With no promotional push to speak of (at least in current industry terms), the record went on to sell over 20,000 copies on the sheer strength of the material. The following year, Sigfússon released a proper solo record under the Sin Fang Bous moniker, again on the Morr imprint. Clangour was easily one of the finest albums of 2008, a wondrous mishmash of influences, melodies, and objets trouvés. (You can hear “We Belong,” a track from this disc, on our October 2009 podcast.)

Come March, Sigfússon and the Seabear gang will return with a new batch of tunes. Their second LP, We Built A Fire, is being preceded by the release of the “Lion Face Boy” single, a song which highlights the band’s various strengths and ability to construct a nearly inhabitable world in three and a half minutes flat. Fans of indie pop/rock titans like Belle & Sebastian, Arcade Fire, and The Decemberists will find themselves immediately comfortable with Seabear’s aesthetic. Songs are adroitly crafted with a simmering intensity, instruments ring out in a controlled jangle, and even a touch of the folkloric chantey brightens the periphery. It is a demanding set of expectations for such a brief ride, but this is not a band to shy away from a challenge. Both familiar and inventive, “Lion Face Boy” is the promise of another brilliant release from Seabear.