Morr Music signed and Reykjavik based Icelandic melody makers, Seabear have officially released their much-anticipated second full-length We Built A Fire today, despite the earlier leak that took place in February. In addition to the full-length comes a coinciding EP, When the Fire Dies. Though their 2007 release, The Ghost That Carried Us Away managed to slip through the cracks at first, fans of the album quickly came out of the woodwork after the bands animated videos began getting hit after hit, and songs such as ‘I Sing, I Swim’ made their way into people’s memory banks, creating a whole community of happy humming along-ers.
More recently the group has been putting the finishing touches on We Built A Fire, and starting out on their Spring tour, which will last through June. “We are at the moment in Germany having a wonderful time playing our new songs finally for people out there.” (Halldór Ragnarsson)
Originally a simple solo project of the multi-talented Icelandic singer Sindri Már Sigfússon, Seabear has grown since it’s humble beginning to include a slew of six other talents including Gudbjörg Hlin Gudmundsdottir, Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir, Halldór Ragnarsson, Örn Ingi Ágústsson, Kjartan Bragi Bjarnason and Sóley Stefánsdótti.
Naturally with the inclusion of so many more musical minds Seabear’s sound has progressed and changed. Though We Built A Fire still holds onto the gorgeous and slightly ghostly main vocals of Sindri, it also includes a few steps in various new directions. From the albums start with ‘Lion Faced Boy’ we are shown a number of intricacies in this record that we didn’t find in past releases like The Ghost That Carried Us Away or The Singing Arc EP. Harp, horns, and a quirky carnival-esque accordion create a more up-tempo sound right off the bat. Other tracks like ‘Fire Dies Down’ and ‘Wooden Teeth’ give off a slightly southern vibe, from the formers galloping pace and tremor filled electric guitar, to the latter’s fiddle that is found layered in the folds of the song. What’s beautiful about both these tracks, and most on the album, is that while there is this one specific vibe within them, there are also several others all fused into one song. For example, ‘Fire Dies Down’ also includes a floaty, classical feel in its opening piano, and an eerie whistling underneath the sad drone of a violin before it picks up to that cowpoke pace.
As a whole this album gives Seabear a much fuller sound, due the previously mentioned large variety of intricacies. While these are many, and normally so many sounds in one song are in danger of coming off as muddled, We Built a Fire manages to deliver a clear, well-formed fusion. Delving into the more basic indie rock are songs ‘Softship’ and ‘Wolfboy’,
which are both a pleasant diversion from the slower, more muted sound Seabear brought to the table in the past. ‘Leafmask’ is another track with a hint of country roots behind it’s wah-ing strings, but has a little quirk in it’s vocal patterns, which allude more toward the likes of up-tempo Elliott Smith than anything else.
‘We Fell Off The Roof’ was a song that took us by surprise with its back and forth between the more familiar slowed down sound of Seabear and their new tempo burst, complete with a more percussive focus. We also loved the xylophone/chimes included in this track. ‘Warm Blood’ was a song that threw us for a loop even more so, as its full drums and hint of reverb filled our ears and suddenly Seabear was rocking out with a full electric guitar riff. The whispery vocals of Sindri that we’re so used to drop down in this track and come across as more husky and soulful than anything, and we love the combination of a hard hitting rock n’ roll guitar coupled with something as delicate as violin.
Our one moment of dissatisfaction in this album came from ‘In Winters Eyes’ which we initially loved for its combination of Fleetwood Mac folksiness and orchestrated strings, but we felt had a mid-song melody too similar to the earlier played ‘Fire Dies Down’ to feel truly fresh.
None the less, We Built A Fire is a big sign of progress for Seabear, not only for its inclusion of a wider instrumental variety and quicker pace, but for the implementation of layered vocals from multiple members, giving the album as a whole a more choral feel to their builds. Delivering an ambience not too far off the path of Stars and Midlake, We Built A Fire has a more concise clarity than the previous fuzzy sound Seabear gave off. A stand out effort from our Icelandic friends, we look forward to hearing these new songs as they pass through the US on their epic tour, and urge music lovers to take some time to give We Built A Fire an attentive listen.
Seabear’s bassist Halldór Ragnarsson was kind enough to answer a few of our questions from the road this week, as our inquiring minds just had to know about the making of the album, who would play his dream show, and just how dear Halldór became part of Seabear.
Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Halldór Ragnarsson: At the moment maybe Yo La Tengo, Fleetwood Mac and Chris Isaak all playing together at a beach with Helena Christiansen dancing in the crowd.
Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?
H.R: There are so many, and we are seven in the band that write the music together, so there are even more than ‘many’ that influence us.
Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
H.R: Flute.
Reviewsic: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
H.R: We were listening today in the bus to some Morr label bands that we got at the office. The new Lali Puna album is great.
Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
H.R: This is the most difficult Q I´ve ever had in an interview so I have so say “pass”.
Reviewsic: Who was the first band/musician you saw live?
H.R: It was some strange Icelandic man that played on accordion in a field in front of my parents summerhouse when I was a child. I think he was drunk. I hope so. The first live show that made my spine shiver was maybe Sigur Rós way way back in Reykjavik. That was probably around ´96 when I was 14-15. They all had long hippy hairs.
Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands? What is the local music scene like in your hometowns?
H.R: It is so friendly an environment in Iceland, so almost all the musicians are your friends. But yes there are alot of good bands around so I can´t pick three out of the bunch. But of course there are some bad as well. Like everywhere.
Reviewsic: What’s the backstory on how you became in involved in the band?
H.R: It started as Sindri´s solo stuff way back but around 2005-2006 then it started as a seven piece band. For my part I started in this band when me and Sindri where together in art school in 2006 when he asked me to write & play bass for some songs that he had written and after that it just clicked.
Reviewsic: Tell us about We Built A Fire- is there a particular concept behind it? What was the process of making the album like?
H.R: It has been in the making on and off for almost two years now, but it I think it is kind of normal when you are seven writing the songs together and not all living in the same country together. Also all the members in the band are all doing other stuff as well, wheather it is solo projects, in another bands or doing art so that takes much time as well.
Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as musicians at the point of We Built a Fire as opposed to when you first began playing together?
H.R: This is more open, if I can say so, compared to different music styles and everybody had equal part in the making and writing the songs. Also we know more where we are going compared to sounds and so on.
Reviewsic: What are some of your favorite places to play?
H.R: There are so many places where we have been so happy after gigs we keep on smiling until the next one.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?
H.R: Best moments is when you don´t want the concerts to end because there are so good feeling around you but you have already played for one and a half hour and you don´t know any more songs. The worst moments are when you don’t know any more songs.
Reviewsic: How did you get your start in music?
H.R: I have played in various rock bands since teenager. Before Seabear I was in a math rock band for 7 years called Kimono. They are still going on and they have never been better.
Reviewsic: What are three words you’d use to describe your music to someone who has never heard it?
H.R: Warm. Open. Instruments.
Reviewsic: What are your plans for your music in the next year?
H.R: We are really busy this year playing gigs all around and I have to say hopefully next year as well.
