Seafarers, a group of six long-time collaborators blending the sounds of indie rock, chamber pop, and jazz, return with their latest album, “Another State.” Formed in 2018, the band initially captured attention with their debut album “Orlando,” and then followed up with “II,” a reflective exploration of adolescence and its bittersweet transitions. Now, Seafarers dive deeper into the human condition with “Another State,” an album that embodies their storytelling prowess and musical versatility.
The core members of Seafarers include the rich vocal performances of Lauren Kinsella, Tom Taylor on piano, and Matthew Herd, who adds texture with his synthesizer and saxophone. Guitar duties are shared by Sam Griffiths and Arun Thavasothy, while Tom McCredie holds down the electric bass and Dave Hamblett provides intricate drumming and percussion. Euan Burton not only contributes vocals and guitars but also serves as the producer, guiding the album’s intricate layers. With engineering by Patrick Phillips at Real World Studios and final touches by Patricia Sullivan at Bernie Grundman Mastering, “Another State” is a meticulously crafted piece that thrives on its storytelling and emotive depth.
At its core, “Another State” captures people in transit—emotionally, physically, and mentally. Across ten distinct yet interconnected tracks, the album examines characters at various stages of life, caught between a sense of freedom and the pangs of abandonment. Through songs like “Bedwetters,” “Another State,” “Televangelists,” “Melissa,” “Everything I’d Do (to Get a Hold on You),” “Crashing Cars,” “Anyone Else,” “Tiny Itch,” “Tough Kids,” and “A Little Loss,” Seafarers take listeners on a journey through moral rabbit holes, fractured relationships, and the search for belonging in new cities and unfamiliar places.
The opening track, “Bedwetters,” sets the tone for this introspective journey. Here, Seafarers delve into vulnerability and human connection, crafting a poignant narrative around the small, awkward moments that define relationships. The song draws listeners into the intimate world of two individuals who find beauty in their imperfections yet grapple with the crushing weight of external expectations. Through the lens of addiction and societal pressures, “Bedwetters” transforms from a song about youthful discovery into a powerful meditation on self-worth and validation, offering a raw glimpse into the emotional battles we often fight alone.
With “Melissa,” the band shifts gears to explore themes of personal growth and reconnection. Melissa is more than just a character; she is a symbol of lost opportunities and the lasting impact of time. The narrative centers on two people navigating addiction, loss, and the unspoken regrets of their past as they try to rebuild what was once broken. The stolen necklace returned like a relic of bygone days, underscores the weight of unresolved emotions. Seafarers craft a delicate balance between nostalgia and the harsh realities of present life, where even the dreams they once shared seem distant and unattainable.
“Everything I’d Do (to Get a Hold on You)” captures the emotional push and pull of trying to hold onto a fragile relationship. Seafarers paint a vivid picture of love hanging in the balance, where passion is eroded by insecurity and doubt. The narrator’s desperation to maintain their connection, despite internal and external pressures, becomes palpable as the song unfolds. This track is a testament to Seafarers’ gift for storytelling—inviting listeners into the narrator’s inner turmoil, where unresolved pasts loom large and the future feels both uncertain and tantalizingly out of reach.
The album’s emotional depth continues with “Tough Kids,” which explores the fraught dynamics of modern relationships. Seafarers expose the emotional walls built by characters masking their insecurities behind toughness. Despite brief moments of intimacy, they remain detached and unable to fully connect. The song’s vivid contrasts—such as glimpses of “angels” in the midst of “dead eyes”—create a haunting portrayal of people yearning for genuine connection while being trapped by their own defenses. It’s a raw reflection on how we desire love yet often sabotage our own chances of finding it.
Throughout “Another State,” Seafarers masterfully navigate the emotional landscape of their characters, moving fluidly between stories of connection, isolation, and everything in between. The title track, “Another State,” acts as a thematic anchor, encapsulating the album’s exploration of transitions—both geographic and emotional. Each song offers a window into a different aspect of life’s complexities, whether it’s the reckless abandon of “Crashing Cars” or the quiet introspection of “A Little Loss.”
Seafarers have once again crafted an album that speaks not only to the human condition but also to the very nature of storytelling itself. With “Another State,” they remind us that life is defined by its in-betweens—the spaces between leaving and arriving, between hope and disappointment, between who we were and who we might become. This album is a meditation on what it means to be constantly searching, constantly evolving, yet never quite arriving. For those ready to dive into its emotional depths, “Another State” is an unforgettable listen.
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