When a band loses its singer, there are few reasonable paths forward. You can pick another singer from the remaining band members. You can change your name. Or you can be like We Lost the Sea and do neither. At this point its not arguable: the instrumental version of the band that has been releasing albums the last 10 years is the better one.

We Lost the Sea A Single Flower (Bird's Robe)

Which is not to disparage the late Chris Torpley, but rather to praise the musical growth of the band (which has added members over the years to fill out the sound). It helps that the band was already pretty conceptual before Torpleys death. The later releases have leaned even more into post-rock explorations.

And while these are lengthy pieces (the final track clocks in at more than 27 minutes!), theres no wasted space. The sound is clean, regardless of volume, and the themes are well-communicated and parsed expertly. Even the true noise moments are clinical.

I suppose that might be a complaint for some, but We Lost the Sea is far too energetic and creative to lapse into dull repetition. These pieces venture forth and return with the goods. Patience given is rewarded. A fine way to get lost.

Jon Worley