The Sea and Cake – “Runner”
Nae Hakala | rawr reviews
Epitomizing indie-pop for more than a decade, the Chicago quartet The Sea and Cake have been a consistent force in the music scene. Their new album, “Runner,” is an ode to their development and maturity over an expansive career.
Dreamy vocals driven with the husk of a seasoned crooner accompany guitar, piano, drums, bass and synthesizer in a crisp format that manages to avoid the pitfalls of overproduction. The instruments swirl around a nod to modern jazz in a sound that has progressed, yet it remains true to the band’s signature sound.
The album opens with the up-tempo yet cool “On and On” And harkens to the signature driving-snare and copious sparkly symbol fills. The vocals harmonize on a break down that would have even the staunchest hipster humming and bobbing his head. The excitement of the album builds with the single “Harps,” clearly the favorite for a reason. Diverging from the vibes of their earlier albums, the synthesizer reigns over this track even before the soft arpeggios and shiver-evoking vocals take the wheel. Sam Prekop’s romantic lyrics “Summer won’t go off because the sky was never blue” allow the listener to daydream their own interpretations.
The fourth track, “The Invitations,” begins with a stomach dropping, breathy wish over fuzzy synth. It adds balance to the album that teeters between ever-prominent clean and classic indie and resurgent synth pop. “Harbor Bridges” takes the sweetest harmonizing tones from the 1960s and wraps them in equally reminiscent lyrics. “All hands across the bay, another bridge is just a mile away.” The album wraps with a smooth and lush title track that sounds like closing time at a favorite local haunt.
“Runner”begs for a warm summer night drive with the windows down through the rolling hills and winding roads of the Palouse. The Sea and Cake maintains their well-deserved status at the pinnacle of musicianship and relevance. They serve as an example for a genre that has exploded during their long career. Never trendy means never out of style.