Inland Sea is the debut solo album from Marcus Whale and his first release outside of the electronic duo Collarbones. Almost avant-garde in its experimentation, the record becomes stale in its obnoxious 50 minute running time.
Although singles Vapour and My Captain address social issues like race, gender and sexuality, the conscious commentary is drowned out by over-the-top production. It becomes difficult to focus on these lyrical themes as Whale attempts to blend all the disparate elements of his sound.
While the always captivating Rainbow Chan delivers a stunning vocal performance on 1888 that proves to be one of the highlights of the record, Whale’s own performance is flat and stretched out to little effect. It is only through the almost choral and chilling harmonisation from both parties that the track is saved from utter obliteration.
Vulnerable is Whale’s most ambitious effort to date. Glitchy hi-hats build toward an eerie sounding synth that draws the listener’s attention. While being a departure from the pop-electronica sound of his previous band, the production on Inland Sea comes off as something akin to a B-grade movie score. This is not the debut he should be looking for to appeal to a wider audience.
BY BENJAMIN POTTER
