Sea Lion #4 - Sanna's Song

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There's been a theme this week for posting acts I've mentioned numerous times already and that's continuing for another few days at least, the hope is at least that newer readers will still be discovering an act for the first time, even though like in the case of this post I've covered the artist in question at intervals since September 2012 (and as the blog title suggests, I'm here to talk about music that I like).

Sea Lion (Gothenburg's Linn Osterberg) has captured my heart before with her naked arrangements and a delicate, haunting voice so it's no surprise she's done it again with the first glimpse of new material since signing to Turnstile Music (a few of you might have been lucky enough to see her play her debut UK dates in support of Cate Le Bon this/last week).

The track "Sanna's Song" (available as a free download via the soundcloud link below), plucks right at your soul with typically soft, restrained instrumentation as glacial guitar shimmers are joined by pared-down beats and Linn's serenely fragile vocal delivery, it's purposely slow but hits hard with devastatingly beauty as you are transferred to a blissful world far away from the constant rain that's blighting the UK. Gorgeous.

Sea Lion #3 - Christmas Of Our Own

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I'm looking forward to the new Sea Lion record which I hope will be released next year (after news of her signing to Turnstile records, home of Perfume Genius amongst others, this). First though there's a seasonal track which popped up on her Soundcloud last week - as a side note, I highly recommend paying a trip to that page as it features numerous cover tracks not on either of her releases thus far. My favourite of which I covered right back in January, "Love Story"...

"Christmas Of Our Own" doesn't really sound like your traditional festive track, you won't be reaching for this as you party with friends, there are no sleigh bells or optimism for the season of good will. Instead it stays true to much of Sea Lion's previous work, plucking straight at your hear-strings, an intimate, naked beauty backed with little more than Linn Osterberg's finger-plucked acoustic and fragile, soft whispers. The result is as pretty and melancholic as you could wish for - one for the late-night moments when everyone else is tucked up in bed leaving you alone with your thoughts and malt whisky.

Sea Lion #2 - Love Story

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Sea Lion (Linn Osterberg) has one of those beguiling, beautiful vocals that I could listen to every night, soothing and bewitching, her voice could heal any wounded heart and sooth tired limbs.

Since my superlative laden review of her album Guns of Alaska Linn has released a couple of covers on her soundcloud, the latest is "Love Story" (a cover of the track originally called "Where Do I Begin" and made famous by Andy Williams on the film of the same name). It runs at only two minutes in length but is mesmerising, a simple pared-down beauty as heartfelt and understated as anything you'll hear. Gorgeous.

I've also included a live version of "Sun Lions Army", a track due for inclusion on Sea Lion's forthcoming 2013 album (details yet unknown) which gives another introduction to her intimate, ethereal wonder.

Sea Lion - New Music "Introducing"

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I've mentioned on numerous occasions the main problem trying to maintain a regularly updated blog alongside a full-time job, family and active social life (as well as training to run a Marathon at the start of October and all my Beautiful Strange involvement) is finding time. Of course, everyone no matter what they do, doesn't seem to find enough hours in the day to do everything they'd like to but the ever increasing number of emails, highlighted posts and draft blogs is a growing indication that I'm not quite finding the time to post about probably as much as half of the acts I'd like to, will my drafts on the likes of Felix, Tiny Ruins or The Paper Shades (to name but three) get written up soon? I hope so, but balance between maintain some aspect of new music, following acts I love and talking about what I'm up to takes much of my spare time already.

That long, rambling paragraph leads me to Sea Lion (aka singer/songwriter Linn Osterberg from Gothenburg) who was one such act sitting in my draft folder for a little while now, I've forgotten my introduction so apologies to them but on what is the second Sea Lion album Guns of Alaska (I've only found it available on iTunes to date) Linn exhibits the sort of fairy tale beauty that is too good for my drawn out words (though I'm about to use some)...

Ten tracks of mainly naked, stripped back arrangements where the instrumentation is often little more than delicate guitar circles and atmospheric echoes which in turn means that much of the musical landscape is created by Linn's exquisite song-poetry and her pretty, pure voice. Delicate and haunting, her sublime whispers are uniquely endearing and captivating throughout. I could pretty much pick any track from the album but the romantic chimes of "Elias" or the devastatingly beautiful "The Loneliest Boy In New York" are amongst my highlights with "Without Brackets" sumptuous fragility another worth mentioning. Sea Lion's beguiling way with wordsand ethereal vocals could probably make the saddest of songs song like a love letter, such is her power.

There's many more treasures to be found on Sea Lion's Soundcloud page, most of her first LP Mercy Land and some covers (I've picked my favourite, a serenely beautiful version of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire")to stream below. My advice, clear your next hour, go grab a nice drink, press play and immerse yourself in the magical world of Sea Lion.