The Washed Up Folk Band hail from the shores of Essex and Suffolk and bring to us their first album ‘Songs of the Sea’. The album draws upon timeless tales of sailors, love lost and found, and the perils of the stormy seas, spun with a contemporary twist.

They intelligently weave together dynamic arrangements with rich vocal harmonies and insightful emotional depth, creating a compelling listen. Their higher energy numbers are reminiscent of contemporary folk bands such as Bellowhead and would be perfect for folk festivals, however their mellower numbers also highlight their diversity and would be appreciated in more intimate settings such as folk clubs. 

Ghost Ship is one of my favourite tracks of the album. Deep male vocals speak in gravelly yet dulcet tones and interweave with higher-pitched hypnotic backing vocals and trance inducing percussion. It has all the infectious qualities of a traditional sea shanty combined with contemporary avant- garde flavours, which exemplifies The Washed Up Folk Band’s ability to take a timeless form in a new direction and truly make it their own.

Overall, ‘Songs of the Sea’ is far more than a traditional album simply rehashing old sea shanties. Just as the ocean never ceases to provide humans with awe and wonder; The Washed Up Folk Band manage to wistfully capture the full spectrum of human emotion in timeless yet original songs of the sea.

´Songs of the Sea´ is available in digital download

Buy the album now

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