The Sea and Cake
's buoyant debut is a breath of fresh air, an utterly distinctive and innovative work that expands the scope of frontman
Sam Prekop
's work in the great
Shrimp Boat
to incorporate a new fascination with Afro-Caribbean rhythms and textures. Recorded by
Brad Wood
, the album simply glows --
Prekop
's dry vocals and free-associative lyrics skip along a shimmering and lushly pastoral backdrop that nimbly fuses
pop
,
soul
jazz
, and even
prog rock
; tracks like
"Jacking the Ball,"
"Flat Lay the Water,"
and
"Showboat Angel"
are as seductive as they are elusive. ~ Jason Ankeny