More about: Sea Girls

Since the release of their debut album in 2020, Sea Girls have become the faces of British indie music, reigniting the fire of guitar bands up and down the country. Back with their brand new album Homesick, the boys have stuck to the recipe they know best: catchy hooks and big anthemic choruses counteracted by a few intimate acoustic moments. Adventurous? Maybe not so much. Packed full of fun and lyrical intimacy? Absolutely. 

Opening with 'Hometown', you instantly settle into the sound of Sea Girls as a familiarity washes over you. Perhaps it's because the track is a pre-released single—but more likely because you're instantly greeted with infectious guitar alongside Henry Camamile’s recognisable vocals. The track itself breeds excitement and anticipation for the remaining ten songs, making it the no-brainer opener for their second musical adventure. 'Sick' follows the same path: it's a steady opener with a booming chorus and repeatable lyrics. Why change the recipe if you baked the perfect cake first time around, right?

In a slightly different pace to the rest of the album, 'Someone’s Daughter, Someone's Son' opens with a more mellow tone as Henry's vocals possess a deeper sense of vulnerability. Then: the dance-inducing, Doc Marten-wearing chorus kicks in, splashing festival vibes and summer all over the song. In parallel, 'Paracetamol Blues' feels as if it's opening up old wounds for Henry in a cathartic and truly honest capacity, as the singer reveals: “I don't like myself, but maybe you do”. The steadiness of the track allows for an affinity between the band and listeners, giving the feeling of a 2am spill-your-heart-out call with a friend, much like another previous single, 'Lonely'. The way the band can present a sense of togetherness and human desire to connect is a big reason why they're so popular.

The real shift in direction, however, comes from the penultimate track on Homesick. 'Cute Guys' channels the works of The Cure or even The Smiths: an eerie, almost mysteriously tuneful guitar with stripped vocals crashes into a gigantic rock ballad from a horror film. Despite the album staying largely safe in terms of what fans can expect, it's still refreshing to hear Sea Girls trying something new—although it's a shame they didn't do even more. 

'Friends' is the final performer for the album. Filled with nostalgia and the beauty of life, the song celebrates togetherness with an undertone of anxiety that many will relate to. It's certainly ready for crowds at the Hometown tour later this year. For fans of Sea Girls, their second album can't come soon enough and it's hard to see how any of them will be disappointed, given the singles have gone down so well. But for people who haven't heard their work before, Hometown is definitely a palatable place to start. 

Homesick arrives 18 February via 

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More about: Sea Girls