Even in their most chilled moments of club-inspired, urban electronic pop, Manchester’s Sea Fever have kept up a dopamine-driven beat of positivity, yet on new single Able Eyes, they raise the pressure, volume and mood to ‘indie anthem’ proportions. OUT NOW, the single is the final pre-release track to beat at the door of their anticipated, second album, Surface Sound, which finally makes its way into the world this Fri 30 May 2025 via Cosmic Glue.
Drawing listeners into a rewarding mix of moods and influences over the last four months of single releases, leaks and teases, Sea Fever make a leap from the ‘Italo-Manc disco’ of April’s Go To Ground into unapologetic, main stage festival sing-a-long territory. Landing heavy, fuzzed guitar chords onto human-powered rhythms and mixing impassioned vocals with deft, sparing electronic accents, the bands links to New Order, Johnny Marr, Haven and other influential bands shimmer from behind the curtain.
Quoting the advent of the 60s avant-garde in New York as a point of reference for Able Eyes, blending Lou Reed and Nico’s influences with the uncompromising and confrontational synth-punk of Suicide, the depths of the band’s record collections and playlist favourites becomes as clear as their own songwriting and performing pedigree.
“’Able Eyes’ truly signifies Sea Fever’s versatility,” says singer, guitarist and lyricist, Iwan Gronow. “Although this is not one of our dance tracks, the song still has a real, intentional pulse, mixing Velvet Underground guitars with layers of synths. Lyrically the song is nostalgic, throwing back to growing up. The line: “Kicking your heels, dissecting sums” signifies life’s momentum in so many ways, adapting and preparing for huge moments of change.”
