Sea Power, previously known as British Sea Power, are a six-piece indie roc… Read Full Bio ↴Sea Power, previously known as British Sea Power, are a six-piece indie rock band based in Brighton, England, although three of the band hail originally from Kendal in Cumbria. Their style encompasses sweeping and often epic guitar pop with more visceral, angular and esoteric noises and instruments. Critics have likened their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure to Pixies. They have released five albums and a number of EPs (most on Rough Trade) since they formed in 2000. The band is currently comprised of:
Yan (Jan Scott Wilkinson) - Vocals, guitar
Noble (Martin Noble) - Guitar
Hamilton (Neil Hamilton Wilkinson) - Bass, vocals, guitar
Wood (Matthew Wood) - Drum
Phil Sumner - Cornet, Keyboards
Abi Fry - Viola
Yan, Hamilton and Wood are school friends from Kendal in Cumbria. They were in a number of bands together while at school, but after finishing his exams Yan moved to study at Reading University, where he met guitarist Noble. A few years later Hamilton and Wood moved down to join them and form a band.
They played some gigs and produced a 4 track demo in Reading as British Air Powers, before relocating to Brighton in search of a more vibrant music scene. "British Sea Power" was actually the name of one of these demo tracks, and was eventually reworked into Carrion. In Brighton, BSP amassed a strong local following, due mainly to their own club night called "Club Sea Power". The club nights featured many different support bands, and other forms of entertainment such as a 1930s fashion show, and were most frequently hosted at the Freebutt and the Lift (the latter has now closed down).
Their debut single, Fear of Drowning, was issued in limited numbers of their own Golden Chariot label. The artwork for the B side "A Wooden Horse" borrows heavily from the dust cover of the 1950 book "The Wooden Horse" that details the escape of Allied POWs during WWII. Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records saw the band live and in September 2001 signed them to his label. A number of singles were issued on the label, and Eamon (Eamon Hamilton) was recruited to play live keyboards in autumn 2002.
The Decline of British Sea Power, the band's debut album, was released in June 2003 to critical acclaim. A single from the album, "Carrion", became the band's first Top 40 single. The album only charted in the lower reaches of the UK Album Chart, but turned out to be a word of mouth success, shipping well over 60,000 copies over the following two years and allowing them to play sell-out UK tours to venues of over 1,000 people.
The follow-up, Open Season, was released in early April 2005, and also enjoyed wide critical praise. It showcased a more accessible, produced sound and charted at #13 in the UK Albums Chart. Lead single It Ended on an Oily Stage charted at #18 in the UK Singles Chart a week earlier.
British Sea Power have a reputation for elaborate and well-thought out live shows and won the 2004 Time Out London Live Band of the Year award. The stage is often decorated with foliage and plastic birds and sets generally finish with a semi-improvised song called "Rock in A", which sometimes lasts for over 20 minutes. Various members often climb riggings and tear down the foliage, Eamon walks around the audience beating his marching drum, and a ten-foot bear, Ursine Ultra, occasionally makes an appearance - often taking a beating from various band members. This has become one of the signatures of the band. Their tours often include unusual venues such as the Scillonian Club on the Isles of Scilly, Grasmere Village Hall, the St. John Boste Social Club in Kendal, Cumbria and Carnglaze Caverns in Cornwall.
The band have built up an eccentric image in interviews and press releases; some of which is based on fact, other times merely whimsical building of outward personas. This has included giving journalists grid references at which to meet them, and expressing obsessions with Field Marshal Montgomery and bird watching.
The band has a fiercely loyal and devoted hardcore fanbase, sometimes referred to as the Third Battalion.
At the beginning of 2006, it was announced that Eamon had left British Sea Power to concentrate on his own band Brakes. The group spent part of late 2006 working on new material in Montréal, and are preparing a DVD.
In 2007, American Laundromat Records announced that British Sea Power would record a version of the Pixies' "Caribou" for an album called "Dig For Fire - A Tribute To Pixies."
In October 2007, the band went on tour throughout the east coast of America to showcase their new 5-track EP, Krankenhaus EP. In November 2007, they toured a variety of unusual locations in the UK including a seaside cafe in Saltdean, East Sussex; a ferry across the River Mersey, Liverpool; the Tan Hill Inn, the UK's highest inn; All Saints Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and White Mischief, an indoor festival mixing live bands with unusual vaudeville acts.
Their Krankenhaus? EP was released digitally for purchasable download in October 2007 and was released on CD and vinyl on November the 20th. Their third album, Do You Like Rock Music? was released on 14th January 2008 in the U.K. and scheduled for release on 12th February 2008 in the U.S. Prior to their tour in support of Do You Like Rock Music? (visiting Ireland, UK, Belgium, Holland, Germany and US), Wood injured his back and had to be temporarily replaced by Tom White of Electric Soft Parade and Brakes fame.
In January 2008 the keyboard and cornet player ended up in hospital after being knocked unconscious when he attempted a stage dive. The crowd at Leeds Irish Centre failed to catch Phil Sumner, who jumped off a 12-foot PA system landing head first. The press department at Rough Trade Records reported "The impact knocked him out. Thankfully an ambulance was quickly summoned and he was whisked away, bloody and unconscious and despite a concussion, a broken molar and a maze of stitches in his chin, a very groggy Phil is expected to make a full recovery." In spite of this, he returned to the stage with the rest of the band a day later in Kendal.
In February 2008, the band appeared on Later with Jools Holland, playing Waving Flags, Canvey Island and No Lucifer. They were ably accompanied by a small number of the London Bulgarian Choir and a display of Cumbrian wrestling. The band are also scheduled to play at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Latitude, T in the Park and Bestival.
In May 2009, British Sea Power released their fourth album, Man of Aran. Several tracks on this album are remakes of older songs, such as the main riff from North Hanging Rock which features in the new track Boy Vertiginous. The album comes paired with a DVD containing the Robert J. Flaherty film 'Man of Aran', a silent film with music from the album dubbed in.
In October 2010, British Sea Power released the seven track 'Zeus' ep and announced the release of their next album, 'Valhalla Dancehall' in January 2011.
In November 2011, the band started hosting a regular club evening in Brighton called "Krankenhaus" that recalled some of their Club British Sea Power events. DJ sets, friends of the band and general BSP hijinx.
On 9 August 2021, British Sea Power announced they were changing their name to Sea Power. In a statement the band explained:
"In recent times there’s been a rise in a certain kind of nationalism in this world – an isolationist, antagonistic nationalism that we don’t want to run any risk of being confused with. It’s become apparent that it’s possible to misapprehend the name British Sea Power, particularly if someone isn’t familiar with the band or their recordings. We’ve always been internationalist in our mindset, something made clear in songs like Waving Flags, an anthem to pan-European idealism. We always wanted to be an internationalist band but maybe having a specific nation state in our name wasn’t the cleverest way to demonstrate that. We very much hope the band’s audience won’t be affronted by this adjustment to the name. We’d like to make it clear that removing the word “British” does NOT indicate any aversion to the British Isles whatsoever. We all feel immensely fortunate to have grown up in these islands. Several or our songs are filled with love and awe for this place. We do love these lands. We all still live within the British Isles, but we are now just Sea Power. We feel the name change comes in part from the band’s audience – who at a good show will shout out, “Sea Power! Sea Power!” Maybe this name change has been there for years, shouted in our ears. It’s just taken us this long to realise – to hear what was there in front of us… "
Yan (Jan Scott Wilkinson) - Vocals, guitar
Noble (Martin Noble) - Guitar
Hamilton (Neil Hamilton Wilkinson) - Bass, vocals, guitar
Wood (Matthew Wood) - Drum
Phil Sumner - Cornet, Keyboards
Abi Fry - Viola
Yan, Hamilton and Wood are school friends from Kendal in Cumbria. They were in a number of bands together while at school, but after finishing his exams Yan moved to study at Reading University, where he met guitarist Noble. A few years later Hamilton and Wood moved down to join them and form a band.
They played some gigs and produced a 4 track demo in Reading as British Air Powers, before relocating to Brighton in search of a more vibrant music scene. "British Sea Power" was actually the name of one of these demo tracks, and was eventually reworked into Carrion. In Brighton, BSP amassed a strong local following, due mainly to their own club night called "Club Sea Power". The club nights featured many different support bands, and other forms of entertainment such as a 1930s fashion show, and were most frequently hosted at the Freebutt and the Lift (the latter has now closed down).
Their debut single, Fear of Drowning, was issued in limited numbers of their own Golden Chariot label. The artwork for the B side "A Wooden Horse" borrows heavily from the dust cover of the 1950 book "The Wooden Horse" that details the escape of Allied POWs during WWII. Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records saw the band live and in September 2001 signed them to his label. A number of singles were issued on the label, and Eamon (Eamon Hamilton) was recruited to play live keyboards in autumn 2002.
The Decline of British Sea Power, the band's debut album, was released in June 2003 to critical acclaim. A single from the album, "Carrion", became the band's first Top 40 single. The album only charted in the lower reaches of the UK Album Chart, but turned out to be a word of mouth success, shipping well over 60,000 copies over the following two years and allowing them to play sell-out UK tours to venues of over 1,000 people.
The follow-up, Open Season, was released in early April 2005, and also enjoyed wide critical praise. It showcased a more accessible, produced sound and charted at #13 in the UK Albums Chart. Lead single It Ended on an Oily Stage charted at #18 in the UK Singles Chart a week earlier.
British Sea Power have a reputation for elaborate and well-thought out live shows and won the 2004 Time Out London Live Band of the Year award. The stage is often decorated with foliage and plastic birds and sets generally finish with a semi-improvised song called "Rock in A", which sometimes lasts for over 20 minutes. Various members often climb riggings and tear down the foliage, Eamon walks around the audience beating his marching drum, and a ten-foot bear, Ursine Ultra, occasionally makes an appearance - often taking a beating from various band members. This has become one of the signatures of the band. Their tours often include unusual venues such as the Scillonian Club on the Isles of Scilly, Grasmere Village Hall, the St. John Boste Social Club in Kendal, Cumbria and Carnglaze Caverns in Cornwall.
The band have built up an eccentric image in interviews and press releases; some of which is based on fact, other times merely whimsical building of outward personas. This has included giving journalists grid references at which to meet them, and expressing obsessions with Field Marshal Montgomery and bird watching.
The band has a fiercely loyal and devoted hardcore fanbase, sometimes referred to as the Third Battalion.
At the beginning of 2006, it was announced that Eamon had left British Sea Power to concentrate on his own band Brakes. The group spent part of late 2006 working on new material in Montréal, and are preparing a DVD.
In 2007, American Laundromat Records announced that British Sea Power would record a version of the Pixies' "Caribou" for an album called "Dig For Fire - A Tribute To Pixies."
In October 2007, the band went on tour throughout the east coast of America to showcase their new 5-track EP, Krankenhaus EP. In November 2007, they toured a variety of unusual locations in the UK including a seaside cafe in Saltdean, East Sussex; a ferry across the River Mersey, Liverpool; the Tan Hill Inn, the UK's highest inn; All Saints Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and White Mischief, an indoor festival mixing live bands with unusual vaudeville acts.
Their Krankenhaus? EP was released digitally for purchasable download in October 2007 and was released on CD and vinyl on November the 20th. Their third album, Do You Like Rock Music? was released on 14th January 2008 in the U.K. and scheduled for release on 12th February 2008 in the U.S. Prior to their tour in support of Do You Like Rock Music? (visiting Ireland, UK, Belgium, Holland, Germany and US), Wood injured his back and had to be temporarily replaced by Tom White of Electric Soft Parade and Brakes fame.
In January 2008 the keyboard and cornet player ended up in hospital after being knocked unconscious when he attempted a stage dive. The crowd at Leeds Irish Centre failed to catch Phil Sumner, who jumped off a 12-foot PA system landing head first. The press department at Rough Trade Records reported "The impact knocked him out. Thankfully an ambulance was quickly summoned and he was whisked away, bloody and unconscious and despite a concussion, a broken molar and a maze of stitches in his chin, a very groggy Phil is expected to make a full recovery." In spite of this, he returned to the stage with the rest of the band a day later in Kendal.
In February 2008, the band appeared on Later with Jools Holland, playing Waving Flags, Canvey Island and No Lucifer. They were ably accompanied by a small number of the London Bulgarian Choir and a display of Cumbrian wrestling. The band are also scheduled to play at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Latitude, T in the Park and Bestival.
In May 2009, British Sea Power released their fourth album, Man of Aran. Several tracks on this album are remakes of older songs, such as the main riff from North Hanging Rock which features in the new track Boy Vertiginous. The album comes paired with a DVD containing the Robert J. Flaherty film 'Man of Aran', a silent film with music from the album dubbed in.
In October 2010, British Sea Power released the seven track 'Zeus' ep and announced the release of their next album, 'Valhalla Dancehall' in January 2011.
In November 2011, the band started hosting a regular club evening in Brighton called "Krankenhaus" that recalled some of their Club British Sea Power events. DJ sets, friends of the band and general BSP hijinx.
On 9 August 2021, British Sea Power announced they were changing their name to Sea Power. In a statement the band explained:
"In recent times there’s been a rise in a certain kind of nationalism in this world – an isolationist, antagonistic nationalism that we don’t want to run any risk of being confused with. It’s become apparent that it’s possible to misapprehend the name British Sea Power, particularly if someone isn’t familiar with the band or their recordings. We’ve always been internationalist in our mindset, something made clear in songs like Waving Flags, an anthem to pan-European idealism. We always wanted to be an internationalist band but maybe having a specific nation state in our name wasn’t the cleverest way to demonstrate that. We very much hope the band’s audience won’t be affronted by this adjustment to the name. We’d like to make it clear that removing the word “British” does NOT indicate any aversion to the British Isles whatsoever. We all feel immensely fortunate to have grown up in these islands. Several or our songs are filled with love and awe for this place. We do love these lands. We all still live within the British Isles, but we are now just Sea Power. We feel the name change comes in part from the band’s audience – who at a good show will shout out, “Sea Power! Sea Power!” Maybe this name change has been there for years, shouted in our ears. It’s just taken us this long to realise – to hear what was there in front of us… "
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Keep on Trying
British Sea Power Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Sechs Freunde
If you must act like a beast of the field
Oh, what does it yield
There's a hole in the atmosphere
Every time you speak
All your prayers, your prayers, your prayers
They are on hold again
Your life lessons, lessons, lessons
All can wait
Just for today
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
When the hawks of the city fall
Fall like little thrills
And tomorrow is a place that you, you can't go
All your questions, questions, questions are on hold again
All your brethren, brethren, brethren are in bed again
And you can't say
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying Rudy
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde) Oh Rudy
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying Rudy
Sechs Freunde (Rudy, Rudy)
Can't we stay, can't we stay
Can't we stay, can't we stay
So keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
'Cause you're a product of your own dimensions now
So keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Sechs Freunde
If you must act like a beast of the field
Oh, what does it yield
There's a hole in the atmosphere
Every time you speak
All your prayers, your prayers, your prayers
They are on hold again
Your life lessons, lessons, lessons
All can wait
Just for today
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
When the hawks of the city fall
Fall like little thrills
And tomorrow is a place that you, you can't go
All your questions, questions, questions are on hold again
All your brethren, brethren, brethren are in bed again
And you can't say
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying Rudy
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde) Oh Rudy
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying Rudy
Sechs Freunde (Rudy, Rudy)
Can't we stay, can't we stay
Can't we stay, can't we stay
So keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
'Cause you're a product of your own dimensions now
So keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
The lyrics of "Keep On Trying" by British Sea Power convey a message of perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges and obstacles. The repeated chorus of "Sechs Freunde" (German for "six friends") urges the listener to keep on trying, no matter what difficulties they may encounter.
The opening lines of the song suggest that acting as a "beast of the field" is futile, with no real yield. The metaphorical "hole in the atmosphere" created by one's words implies that negative or destructive behavior can have far-reaching consequences. The repetition of phrases such as "on hold again" and "can wait" suggests a sense of delay, as though the singer is advising patience and persistence.
The second verse introduces the image of hawks falling like "little thrills", suggesting that even the most powerful can suffer defeat. The mention of unanswered questions and sleeping brethren implies a sense of loneliness or isolation, but the chorus continues to assert the importance of trying regardless. The final lines suggest that one's fate is in their own hands, as an individual product of their "dimensions".
Overall, "Keep on Trying" offers a hopeful message of determination and self-reliance in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
If you must act like a beast of the field
If you insist on behaving like an animal
Oh, what does it yield
What will it bring?
There's a hole in the atmosphere
You're causing damage to the world
Every time you speak
Whenever you open your mouth
All your prayers, your prayers, your prayers
Your pleas and requests
They are on hold again
Are being ignored yet again
Your life lessons, lessons, lessons
Your experiences and teachings
All can wait
Can be postponed
Just for today
Just for this moment
When the hawks of the city fall
When the powerful and strong suffer defeat
Fall like little thrills
Tumble down quickly and easily
And tomorrow is a place that you, you can't go
Your future holds obstacles you can't overcome
All your questions, questions, questions are on hold again
Your inquiries and doubts are being ignored
All your brethren, brethren, brethren are in bed again
Your comrades and allies are not available
And you can't say
You can't express yourself
Just keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Don't give up, keep persisting
'Cause you're a product of your own dimensions now
You're a result of your own actions and choices
Can't we stay, can't we stay
Can't we just remain where we are
So keep on trying, keep on trying, keep on trying will you
Don't give up, keep persisting
Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde)
Six friends (six friends)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Helen Abigail Fry, Martin Richard Noble, Philipp Harry Sumner, Jan Scott Wilkinson, Neil Hamilton Wilkinson, Matthew James Wood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Джек Коммунист
Большое спасибо Disco Elysium за то, что я узнал об этой невероятно талантливой группе!
Harry Groombridge
Most underrated band ever
Gary r
Harry Groombridge not any more....can't see anything in their new stuff thats worth rating....I feel their early stuff didn't get the recognition it deserved ...but your seriously saying this radio friendly stuff by them should be greated with an underrated sramp
Harry Groombridge
Gary r I've always loved BSP and I see where you're coming from. Nothing they ever make will ever be as good as that first album, but I still love this sound they've got in this new album and I'm looking forward to it.
Gary r
Harry Groombridge at the end of the day we are both fans of the band
yes their debut for me is one of my favourite albums of all time
I remember the lead singer remarking once that they were messing around recording their debut. ..didn't really know what they were doing.....anyways I am also looking forward to their new album ...I just sometimes hate these sort of tunes from them ...maybe its my loss
Harry Groombridge
Gary r See where you're coming from. Would like the album after this to return to their early stuff
Gary r
Harry Groombridge I feel their debut had this coherent beauty
that maybe has been impossible to surpass. ..but yes I agree with your last statement.
I feel also they could release a beautiful album with thier past bsides
love so much the track named alberts eyes
SXI96
I heard these guys back in 2008 with No Lucifer and Lights out for darker skies, both great songs, it's nice to see they are still making music, their songs take a few listens, but they grow on you over time, the new stuff is great
Hugo Herrera
Such a great band!
Hellie Moonchild
I heard this song today for the first time and got me so addicted to it. Can't stop listening