Sea Mouse is the solo
project of Wellington Singer/Songwriter, Seamus Johnson. A musician who is no stranger
to Wellington’s live music scene with an impressive ten-year track record
performing as an artist and with other bands.
Live, Sea Mouse is a
three-piece, giving life and fullness to a unique and solid sound.
This self-titled debut
sums up exactly what Sea Mouse is all about. Rock n Roll swagger, infused with
Delta southern blues, chunky guitar riffs, slow jams and softness all rolled
into this melting pot of just honest, good rock music. Seamus’s vocals sound
exactly how you imagine; strong, emotive, funky and soft as the tracks go on.Churches in The Trenches is a real foot stomper, and unashamedly, a personal
stand out. Think of any great song that instantly gets your head nodding, and makes
you want to dance/mosh/boogie, just get down, cos it feels right, that’s how good music can make you feel.
I was surprised by how
much softness there was from the rest of the tracks that followed Churches in
the Trenches. A lot of acoustic fill, slow jams, really showing off the more
emotive side. Killer is another stand out track, perfectly named I thought, for
its killer bluesy intro. It’s heavy and dark, and has this sudden shift of
tempo into some great riffs, gravelly vocals and still manages to have a delicate
touch. I really loved how from each song to the next, you couldn’t tell what
was coming.
Sea Mouse is a man and
band you need to know about, see live, and buy his (and their) music. Uniquely
refreshing, Rock n Roll just doesn’t get
any better than this.
Review written by Kerry Monaghan
Sea Mouse is the latest project of renowned Wellington singer/ songwriter Seamus Johnson, who is no stranger to the Wellington live circuit, having supported international bands such as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Helmet, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Jack Broadbent and performing in bands Elston Gun, Paperscissors and solo for the last 10 years.
Johnson's self-titled debut, recorded over the later half of 2016 with master producer Toby Lloyd at Park Road Post Production, encompasses his Delta blues origins, alongside his electrified, hard hitting energetic live performances.
Channeling the thunder and swagger of Jack White & Led Zeppelin and the lyrical subjects akin to Douglas Adams and Alexei Sayle, Sea Mouse is the reincarnation of the primitive, visceral electric blues that you’ve been missing out on.