Everyone loves free stuff. Everyone also loves strawberries.
So when news of a hitherto unknown band called Strawberry Ocean Sea firing three songs up on their website for free download broke, the Tidal Wave of Indifference turned to thoughts of dessert, milkshakes and tennis.
Once we woke up from that delicious dream, we remembered that there were some tunes available for zero pence and rushed over to get them.
The results were a very pleasant surprise. The tunes definitely play more to the expansive-sounding ‘ocean sea’ part of their name rather than anything too sickly sweet.
Enough is Never Enough and Under the Moonlight carry the melancholic melody of a Scottish Echo and the Bunnymen while Today’s the Day has a clear nod to Arcade Fire’s Wake Up, a comparison that may be a little passé these days, but one that’s still weighty and evocative.
The five-piece are Glasgow based and made up by Jonny Skinner (vocals/guitar), Greg Kenney (Guitar), Richie Bell (bass/backing vocals), Stu Kennedy (keys/synths/backing vocals) and Cobo Boyle (drums).
I caught up with Jonny to find out a wee bit more.
So who the hell are you?
We’re Strawberry Ocean Sea – Jonny, Greg, Stu, Richie and Cobo.
Describe your sound in ten words or less!
Our sound is a mix of anger, boredom, desperation and hope.
What are the key influences on your sound?
Life.
Great name – both sweet and epic-sounding. How did you come up with it?
We came up with the name because I kept having a recurring dream about a place where you can do what you want and be happy and have hope and belief. In my mind it looks like a Strawberry Ocean Sea, so that’s what I called us.
How did you guys get together?
We’ve all known each other a long time, so we’ve always been together. The band’s an extension of our friendship.
You’ve put some free tracks up on your site – any more formal releases planned?
We’re also going back into record at the start of April and we’re gonna put the songs out as a single or EP. So listen out.
You can get these tunes for nada over at the band’s website with a wee sneak preview below.
There’s a few shows coming up too, including an appearance at Edinburgh’s Maggie’s Chamber on Saturday (ok, tomorrow) at 9.40 as part of the controversial Haddowfest, so if you’ve got your ticket sorted already you should pop along. If you don’t you’re missing out on sets by Broken Records, Laki Mera, Kitty the Lion and loads more. There isn’t even an obligation to see Razorlight, so go, aye?
There’s also:
April 8, Whitburn Welfare
April 23, Glasgow Classic Grand (part of Easter Fest)
May 28 Under the Moonlight, their own night at Stereo in Glasgow.
