Since arriving on the national scene in 2007 with a string of quietly accomplished singles, Newcastle outfit Seabellies have busied themselves by steadily honing their once-chaotic live shows and perfecting their songwriting chops.  And if this eminently tuneful debut LP is anything to go by, these days the band runs a pretty tight ship. 

Helmed by producer Wayne Connolly (The Vines, Youth Group), By Limbo Lake boasts diverse instrumentation and is buoyed by numerous moments of shimmering, ephemeral beauty.  Frontman Trent Grenell has a strong ear for melody, and his compositions are deftly augmented by a lilting lyricism and inventive string arrangements. 

The album is also book-ended by what are possibly its two strongest moments: the Band of Horses-esque introduction ‘Ices’ and resplendent, near-perfect closer ‘Smokestar,’ which also provides the most sublime poetry of the band’s career: ‘All we dreamt of last night was waking/our bellies full of smoke and stars.’ 

It’s an enchanting and deeply passionate opening gambit from this talented six-piece, and a harbinger of brilliant things to come.