This Chemical Sea

This Chemical Sea is the fifth studio album from Irish recording artist Jape. The album was released on January 23, 2015^[1] via Faction Records and reached number 8 in the Irish charts.^[9]

This Chemical Sea
Studio album by Jape
Released	January 23, 2015[1]
Genre	Electronic, electropop, indie
Length	44:36
Label	Faction Records
Producer	Richie Egan & Glenn Keating[2]
Jape chronology
Ocean of Frequency (2011) This Chemical Sea (2015)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Hot Press	[3]
The Irish Times	[4]
Drowned In Sound	[5]
The Last Mixed Tape	[6]
State	[7]
Nialler9	[8]

Recording and Release

The album was written and recorded primarily at Richie Egan's studio in Malmo in Sweden, with fellow Jape member Glenn Keating also working on the album. Villagers front-man Conor O'Brein also features on the record, lending his vocals to the track 'Ribbon Ribbon Ribbon.^{[citation needed]}

'The Heart's Desire' was the first single to be taken from This Chemical Sea and was streamed in October 2014.^[10] The album itself was released in January 2015 through Faction Records, reaching the number 8 spot in the Irish album charts.^[9]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Seance of Light"	3:56
2.	"The Heart's Desire"	4:06
3.	"Absolutely Animals"	3:32
4.	"Without Life in a Way"	4:07
5.	"Metamorphosis"	5:36
6.	"Breathe of Life"	5:21
7.	"I Go"	4:14
8.	"Love on the Crest of a Wave"	3:50
9.	"Ribbon Ribbon Ribbon"	6:09
10.	"This Chemical Sea"	3:45

Critical reception

This Chemical Sea was received well by critics upon its release, garnering generally positive reviews. Irish Times music critic Tony Clayton-Lea wrote that the album was "As vivid and vital an electro-pop record as you’ll surely hear this year.".^[4] While The Last Mixed Tape said "Jape’s latest album feels like a mantra built on hypnotic rhythm, in the moment lyricism and atmospheric openness"^[6] Drowned In Sound were also positive about the album and referred to it as "smart electro-pop expertly realised".^[5] The record also featured as Nialler9's 'Album of the Week'.^[8]

Not all reviews were completely positive, with State.ie commenting "Vocals are buried under the instruments and reverb, making you wish for the heart achingly humble ‘Phil Lynott’."^[7]

Personnel

Performers

• Richie Egan – Composer and primary musician
• Conor O'Brien - Vocals on 'Ribbon Ribbon Ribbon'

Technical Personnel

• Recorded by Richie Egan & Glenn Keating
• Mixed by David Wrench
• Mastered by Matt Colton ^[2]

References

1. Nialler9 (3 December 2014). "Jape announces EU tour for 2015". Nialler9. Retrieved 26 April 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
2. "This Chemical Sea - Jape (bandcamp)". bandcamp. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
3. Tyaransen, Olaf (23 January 2015). "Jape-This Chemical Sea Review". Hot Press. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
4. Clayton-Lea, Tony (22 January 2015). "Jape-This Chemical Sea Review". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
5. Hanratty, Dave (26 January 2015). "Jape-This Chemical Sea Review". Drowned In Sound. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
6. White, Stephen (12 January 2015). "Jape-This Chemical Sea Review". The Last Mixed Tape. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
7. Rehill, Brendan (23 January 2015). "Jape-This Chemical Sea Review". State. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
8. Nialler9 (22 January 2015). "Album of the Week:Jape-This Chemical Sea". Nialler9. Retrieved 26 April 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
9. "Ed Sheeran returns to Number One in Ireland". RTE.ie. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
10. Nialler9 (14 October 2014). "Premiere: Jape – 'The Heart's Desire'". Nialler9. Retrieved 26 April 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)