If the names Joel and Dan Crannitch sound familiar it's because the brothers were once the driving force behind Adelaide indie-rock act Leader Cheetah.
After the band disbanded and the brothers went their separate ways the two finally reunited in 2016 and began making music together again under the name The San Sebastian. Alive On The Black Sea is the result of their hard work, a splendid Nashville-inspired record of alt-country offerings.
Hooking up with producer Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, The Shins), The San Sebastian combine the indie stylings of their previous band Leader Cheetah with '70s Americana for a debut album brimming with nostalgia. First single Red River is a gentle guitar rambler incorporating some violin, giving the track a classical quality with hints of bossa nova. Elsewhere, Forgotten Star is Harvest-era Neil Young, Tuesday Anna a barnstorming country rocker and Wildfire a laid-back guitar number with touches of Tom Petty.
The album also includes a couple of instrumental numbers, adding a cinematic quality to the release, but it's Dan Crannitch's unique vocals combined with the earthy instrumentation that make Alive On The Black Sea worth your time.
