Purchase The Holy Sea's stunning new album A Beginner's Guide to the Sea:
Or for mail order, visit Chaos Music.
ALSO AVAILABLE
Limited Edition Holy Sea T-Shirts
Designed by Edward J. Grug III
High-quality cotton t-shirts available in yellow and red
To order online, please visit The Button Tree
Watch The Holy Sea performing live at the Grace Emily Hotel (Adelaide) for The Triffids' Tribute Night (25 October 2008) performing the song Personal Things
“Occasionally there is a schism in the music world, an unexpected tremor of greatness.†- The West Australian
Staggering from the suburbs of Perth to the backstreets of Melbourne, 2008 has seen The Holy Sea emerge as a distinctive voice in the Australian musical terrain. Formed in 1999 around singer-songwriter Henry F. Skerritt, The Holy Sea became a mainstay of the Perth music scene. Drawing on a wellspring of Australian influences such as the Triffids, The Go-Betweens and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Holy Sea attracted a devoted following for their intelligent song writing and passionate performances.
In 2000 they released their debut album Blessed Unrest to critical acclaim, with The West Australian declaring it a work of “provoking depth†and “moody geniusâ€. In 2003, Skerritt - a singer/songwriter of diverse talents and interests relocated to Melbourne to indulge his passion for Australian art history - completing his Masters at the University of Melbourne before taking up a position as curator at a Melbourne gallery. Skerritt’s passion for Australian history is reflected in many of his songs, which dwell upon the nature of identity and self amidst the great Australian poetic tradition.
In 2007, Skerritt reunited with pianist Dan Hoey, guitarist Victor Utting and newly acquired drummer F. David Bower to reform The Holy Sea. The new look four piece entered the studio to produce their latest record, A Beginner’s Guide to the Sea. Soon they were joined by bass player Andrew Fuller, cellist Gareth Skinner and vocalist Emma Frichot and the Holy Sea began its triumphant resurrection, taking A Beginner’s Guide to the Sea on the road to universal acclaim.
An album of studied contrasts and finely crafted songwriting, A Beginner’s Guide to the Sea balances pathos with humour, creating an album of mature intensity that showcases a band of seemingly inexhaustible emotive range. Swooning country ballads give way to rollicking drinking songs, taking the listener on an emotional journey across the continent. One of the most distinctive and heartfelt releases of 2008, from its pining pedal-steel opening to its final whispered words, A Beginner’s Guide to the Sea is an aching journey of love and loss, set amidst the ever present Australian landscape.
In 2009, The Holy Sea were hand selected by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds to perform at All Tomorrow's Parties at Mount Buller.
