Sea Girls - ‘Midnight Butterflies’ Review: A triumphant masterclass in pop perfection
Creatively rejuvenated and self-assured, comes Midnight Butterflies. Sea Girls’ most focused record yet and serves as an authentic application to pop perfection.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Credit: Sea Girls 📸
The band that never stops. A story of hard graft and enviable tenacity. On-stage at O2 Arena, supporting global mega-star Louis Tomlinson. Some would say they’re living the dream. Others may question whether they’ve reached their starry-eyed ambitions. What’s clear is Henry, Rory, Andrew and Oli are at the top of their game.
Sea Girls cut through the noise with a string of self-released EPs and an unforgettable live presence. Their triumphant efforts, years in the making, caught the attention of Polydor Records, who subsequently signed the band and gifted a record deal. In 2020, they dropped Open Up Your Head. Despite being released during a global pandemic, the buzz around the band meant Coronavirus did little to stop their unstoppable momentum. The Brit-Certified Breakthrough peaked at no.3 on the UK Album Charts.
Follow-up, Homesick, which came a year later, also reached the same position. It was louder, and largely more introspective than its predecessor. However, it felt very disparate and lacked the punch that came with their early material. While at times lacklustre and forgettable, listening back in 2024 gave us a newfound appreciation for how much this record hit the ‘rock anthem’ nail on the head.
Creatively rejuvenated and self-assured, comes their third studio album, debuting on their newly launched record label. Midnight Butterflies is the most focused yet and serves as an application to pop perfection. It sees them slipping comfortably into what they do best, which is undeniably catchy tunes which linger in your head, and cause a riot at festivals.
Henry has always had a knack for writing openheartedly, and that’s never been more apparent than here. As he dances around lust (I Want You To Know Me), burnout (Weekends And Workdays) and life (Horror Movies), you start to realise this isn’t anything new. What makes it different is the way it’s delivered, which is most certainly the best it’s ever been.
Album opener Midnight Butterflies is a defiant kick-off to the twelve tracks, taking influence from Coldplay and The Killers. The meaning behind this track comes from living in the moment and recalling the euphoric nights as a young adult. Henry stating: “We wanted the opening song on Midnight Butterflies to really represent our approach to the album, which is all about letting go, allowing yourself to indulge in that need to escape and be carefree.”
There’s an abundance of big hitters, in typical Sea Girls fashion. I Want You To Know Me is practically begging for arena-sized singalongs. The same could be said for Come Back To Me, Young Strangers and Polly. All of which are centred around love, and hark closely back to their debut record. They all share the same qualities which made the likes of All I Want To Hear You Say so popular. It’s not difficult to get into the words, and after the first chorus, you’re rearing to scream at the next. Judging by the streams this tune is demanding, it may end up a fan-favourite.
Elsewhere on the album, the themes span greater than simply love. Weekends And Workdays battles burnout in a world of being ‘on’ 24/7. It’s one of our favourites, and released as the lead single back in 2023, after being roadtested at festivals.
“Keep your head up is both words of encouragement and maybe a choice we don’t have. The song is about someone being told to take a break, enjoy life, don’t get ground down and ‘have your weekends’ by a friend. Keep your head up and keep going! People burning out in the modern day against the backdrop of 24-hour social media, online scams and growing global instability.” continues Henry.
Does Only God Know That We’re Lonely? indulges in loneliness on a standout pop tune, another which would set off crowds. Then, they find their groove on First On My List, faintly reminiscent of The 1975. Fixated around a staggered drumbeat, Henry reels off all of life’s pleasures that could never compare to what he has with his lover. This style is repeated in earlier Horror Movies, a slower track, but a highlight nonetheless. “It’s all about vinyl because there’s nothing left that’s new.” he yearns.
What’s noticeable during your subsequent listens of this record is how well-considered the tracklisting is. And how tight the band feels. The pacing is immaculate, whereas previously it felt very much cobbled-together: incredible tracks, but more of a collection than a cohesive album. On Midnight Butterflies, everything makes sense.
Working with a roster of industry-leading producers has helped bring their long-term visions to life. Kid Harpoon, known for his work with Harry Styles, leant a hand on Young Strangers. Not to mention one of the masterminds behind YUNGBLUD, Matt Schwartz, supporting on Midnight Butterflies. That’s not even all, collaborating with Rich Cooper (CMAT, Rina Sawayama) and Benji Gibson (Fred Again) respectively.
The album is closed by After Hours, a softly spoken acoustic number. It all sounds very Sam Fender. All the more impressive when finding out it was produced by lead guitarist Rory, implying there could be more of a self-produced effort to come. As the last chord rings out, you’re left desperately reaching to play the album again. To relive the collision of emotions you just experienced.
:: Round-Up ::
Midnight Butterflies is unquestionably Sea Girls. Rather than reinvent the wheel, they’ve pimped their ride. All the better, too. That ride never looked so good, soaring down the motorway glowing with confidence on a summer’s day.
For a band at a crossroads as to what’s next, this is a record that answers all of their burning questions. By honing what they’re good at while streamlining their sound, Sea Girls are inevitably breaking new ground and uncovering new audiences.
An application for pop perfection? Approved.
If you’re a new fan, all that’s left to do is catch them on tour. You’ll struggle to understand the fun without a sunny day, and a beverage in your hand. If a night at Alexandra Palace and countless main-stage festival slots have proven anything, it’s that this indie quartet can get people on their shoulders effortlessly.
Get tickets to their tour now. Or, pick up limited copies of the album while stocks last.
Now, it’s your turn. Give it a spin, and tell us what you think on Insta or X.
Rating: 8/10
Thank you for reading, why not stick around? 🖤
