British Sea Power
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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British Sea Power Lyrics
07 to get to sleep Took a pill last night, just to get to sleep Put…
10. The Land Beyond Then you'll discover Under your cover The strangest thing …
10.Cleaning Out The Rooms Where life is good in a way Swept away upon our…
A Light Above Descending Aelita dear didn't you hear They've all gone now they're out…
A Lovely Day Tomorrow We've been away for so long now Found out life's coming…
A Rock Drape yourself in greenery Become part of the scenery Ever…
A Trip Out Build us a vehicle Set us a course Pick up your sickle Ge…
A Wooden Horse When wooden horses were in use I would have built one And…
Albert's Eyes The emotion in a stomach acid is equal to the…
All In It [Repeat: x5] We're all in it and We're all in it and We'r…
Alone Piano In the living room I got to know you and i'm…
Apoligies To Insect Life Oh Fyodor you are the most attractive man Oh Fyodor you…
Apologies to Insect Life Oh Fyodor you are the most attractive man Oh Fyodor you…
Apologies to Insect Life (Russian Rock demo) Apologies To Insect Life Oh Fyodor you are the most attract…
Atom I'll be the first to admit this is a bright…
Baby Dance, dance Dancing kid on the snare drum today I look …
Bad Bohemian You said the world was losing all its lustre You realised…
Be Gone Be gone Be gone Be gone your olden ways, be gone Don't be…
Bear Dance, dance Dancing kid on the snare drum today I look good…
Birdy Mew mew, squawk squawk, Mew mew, squawk squawk, Mew mew, squ…
Blackout Welcoming the cool rain in of the astounding dawn Watch the…
Canvey Island Killed a wild swan It was a kind of omen Of everything…
Carrion Carry on inside of your heart Under the brine you won't…
Carrion (Ridgeway mix) Carry on inside of your heart Under the brine you won't…
Childhood Memories Jesus the weather was so good today But I believe a…
Cleaning Out The Rooms Where life is good in a way Swept away upon our…
Come Wander With Me He came from the sunset He came from the sea He came…
Don't Let the Sun Get In the Way Plastic pills I need you still I know I'm not the…
Don't You Want to Be a Bird? Don't you wanna be a bird? Don't you wanna sing and…
Down on the Ground Where I come from, silvery trees Diamond on leaf, can't you…
Electrical Kittens Kitten, this universe is electric now You still dream about …
Fakir Fakir sat down on his carpet, mysteriously grumbling The cro…
Favours in the Beetroot Fields Who's a little Caesar Taking all the world Who's a little …
Fear of Drowning Jesus fucking Christ, oh god no! From the moment that you…
From The Sea To The Land Beyond Then you′ll discover Under your cover The strangest thing th…
Georgie Ray Before this day is cemented In memory of Ray Can we all…
Good Good Boys The aged boys and the deceased Are asking now for their…
Grey Goose One sunny morning The preacher went a'hunting He carried a…
Hail Holy Queen I’m at your feet I’m at your command Hail holy queen of…
Hearing Aid When I got home and I Saw what they had shown…
Heavy Water Did you see the heavy water fall Out of overladen skies? D…
How Will I Ever Find My Way Home? I'm leaving here Getting out of this place Leaving here Gett…
International Space Station Oh punk prayers, city riots Demagogues and fading lights Rad…
It Ended on an Oily Stage Everything you said was true Everything you did was you Ev…
Keep On Trying Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde) Sechs Freunde (Sechs Freunde) …
Land Beyond The Then you'll discover Under your cover The strangest thing …
Lately Lately you seem like another language Are you in trouble, ar…
Lights Out For Darker Skies Oh lights out baby, for darker skies There really is no…
Like a Honeycomb Mother, maiden, aunt or brother On the masonry, and there a…
Living Is So Easy Well, oh, my god, did she look cute At the Dame…
Lliving is so Easy Well, oh, my god, did she look cute At the Dame…
Luna Are you going to the disco hey? Are you hoping that…
Moley and Me The fins and the curves, they don't make them like…
Mongk Sacrifice your eyes to blindness Looking to the hills and c…
Mongk II Sacrifice your eyes to blind mice Looking to the hills and…
Monsters of Sunderland One thing that you must understand We are the monsters of…
No Lucifer Easy! easy! easy! easy! easy! easy! Hey you, give me the…
No Lucifer Partial Easy! easy! easy! easy! easy! easy! Hey you, give me the…
No Need 2 Cry When it's good, it's not bad When it's bad, I don't…
No Red Indian Wah wah wah wah In a place where no one goes…
North Hanging Rock Drape yourself in greenery Become part of the scenery Ever…
Observe The Skies You were an English lord you wanted just rewards You wanna…
Oh Larsen B You're fractured and cold but your heart is unbroken My fav…
Once More Now When your dreams don't come true But your worries are over …
Open The Door Are you gonna live or die? Are you gonna live…
Please Stand Up Take me somewhere quiet please These motorway exit gates A…
Praise for Whatever It's such a convoluted hour To play amongst the flowers When…
Remember Me Do you worry about your health Do you watch it slowly…
Saint Jerome Oh it's strange the way that it works out Running out…
Salty Water And would you care if you fell in? And would your…
Something Wicked Where the ancient oak leaf clusters grew, the deaths head…
South Sound Straight down the line with blood Straight down the line wit…
Straight Down The Line Straight down the line with love, straight down the line…
Strange Communication Well I don't even remember the fall And I don't even…
Stunde Null Stunde null, oh, stunde null Oh, stunde null, oh, stunde nu…
The Land Beyond Then you'll discover Under your cover The strangest thing …
The Lonely Since I find out that all of this Is nothing more…
The Smallest Church in Sussex I would often go there To the tiny church there The smalle…
The South Sound Straight down the line with blood Straight down the line wi…
The Spirit Of St. Loius Come all of ye, sing Louis, Louis Come all of you,…
The Spirit of St. Louis Come all of ye, sing Louis, Louis Come all of you,…
The Voice of Ivy Lee You made a call for my submission With darker noise and…
Thin Black Sail It's not psychedelic, it's got many merits It's not psyched…
To Get to Sleep Took a pill last night, just to get to sleep Put…
Trip Out A Build us a vehicle Set us a course Pick up your sickle Ge…
True Adventures Turgid calls the winter charge True adventures of awaking h…
Tugboat I don't want to go to your party I don't want…
Victorian Ice Victorian ice and Edwardian snow You'll find yourself askin…
Want to Be Free I was thinking of another day Thinking how I didn't see…
Waving Flags You are astronomical fans of alcohol So welcome in Are risin…
We Are Sound Oh, come now, you can barely string Two words together now A…
We Close Our Eyes Inside everyone hides one desire Outside no one would know …
What You're Doing People assemble together from parts Individual capsules ente…
When I Go Out When I go outside these days Almost everything seems strang…
Who's In Control Oh, were you not told? Do you not know? Everything around…
Who's In Control? Oh, were you not told? Do you not know? Everything around…
Will I Ever Find My Way Home I'm leaving here Getting out of this place Leaving here G…
Zeus Rick Stein, Please to meet you, I did not mean to…