We Lost the Sea
A Single Flower


3.6
great

Review

by Raul Stanciu STAFF
July 5th, 2025 | 58 replies


Release Date: 07/02/2025 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A step in the right direction.

We Lost the Sea are back with a brand new album, almost six years after the rather polarizing Triumph & Disaster. Prior to the latter’s release, the Australian act had found themselves in a tight spot due to the critical success of Departure Songs. Despite delivering a solid round of heartfelt tunes on their 2019’s epic, they also got lost in meandering passages and build-ups. Since then, the band have taken their time to craft this latest effort, A Single Flower, inserting various bits from previous affairs into the current direction. A mournful atmosphere hovers over these songs, perhaps best summarized by the opening track, “If They Had Hearts”. In a similar fashion to “A Gallant Gentleman”, it grows in intensity, from a lingering chord progression to a powerful climax. The layered guitars create a rich sonic canvas, ultimately anchored to the bass and drum interplay. Meanwhile, “A Dance with Death” maintains this momentum with its driving beat, as well as sharp leads. Halfway through, the group switches to a melancholic segment, before providing the heaviest coda on the LP. There’s a sense of urgency here rarely found after this number.

The middle section of A Single Flower, consisting of “Everything Here Is Black and Blinding” & “Bloom (Murmurations at First Light)”, heavily relies on post-rock’s trademark crescendos and sudden shifts of soft/loud dynamics. The former’s straightforward kick and clap groove allows the bass to expand, whereas shrilling guitars slowly become audible in the background. A pounding drum enters, leading the way until everything bursts into a lush finale. “Bloom”, on the other hand, uses a more fragmented take on volume switching. Nevertheless, the tune’s bittersweet guitar and piano melodies are augmented by the heavier passages. When everything clicks, the group manages to create a truly compelling atmosphere. Still, by the time we reach the album’s final stretch, the 27-minute long cut, “Blood Will Have Blood” it gradually turns into a patience test. Through the same approach to structure, it aims for an immersive experience. However, it is too long for its own good. We can hear various interesting moments, but the build-up is slow and it could have easily been split in two different tracks. Although it becomes predictable almost to a fault and its 70-minute run feels too much, A Single Flower fares better than its predecessor. It remains a cohesive record overall, successfully displaying the band’s wish to push forward with their sound.




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user ratings (49)
3.6
great

Comments:Add a Comment 
insomniac15
Staff Reviewer
July 5th 2025


6336 Comments

Album Rating: 3.6

Great album, but too long. A Dance With Death is the best song here IMO.



Stream here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHCY3-tdkbQ

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
July 5th 2025


107378 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Haven't jammed this band since Departure Songs. Kinda skeptical of this, but will jam hard. Sick review bro.

Squiggly
July 5th 2025


1463 Comments


27minute-long track? Good thing i’m road tripping soon! Or else i would never check this.

insomniac15
Staff Reviewer
July 5th 2025


6336 Comments

Album Rating: 3.6

Thanks Hawks, I suggest you try this, it's better overall than Triumph and Disaster

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
July 5th 2025


107378 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Will definitely give it a jam over this weekend!

Sowing
Moderator
July 5th 2025


45036 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Nice review. I also found the ideas here to be spread too thin across a 70 minutes runtime, but in small doses I enjoy it a lot. A Dance With Death, Everything Is Black And Blinding, and Blood Will Have Blood were my favorites here.

Tundra
July 5th 2025


10589 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

digging it a lot

insomniac15
Staff Reviewer
July 5th 2025


6336 Comments

Album Rating: 3.6

Thanks. Yes, they should try keeping things at around 50 minutes next time. The first half of Blood Will Have Blood it's great, they could have ended it halfway through IMO.

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
July 5th 2025


18719 Comments

Album Rating: 3.3

Still need to check this. Great review though, ins.

Comatorium.
July 5th 2025


5474 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I didn’t know triumph was a controversial album. Just that it paled in comparison to departure songs. This is nice.

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
July 5th 2025


107378 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Loving this so far.

insomniac15
Staff Reviewer
July 5th 2025


6336 Comments

Album Rating: 3.6

I think it was polarizing, some people found it really boring while others loved it.

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
July 5th 2025


107378 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Only on third track, but shaping up to be an easy 4 atm.

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
July 5th 2025


107378 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Ok yeah bros, this slays. Would 4.2 if I could.

DreamAgain
July 5th 2025


2515 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

The first 3 tracks is a post-rock masterclass. I didn't expect the final track to be the weakest and trail off like that but this is still the best album I've heard this year.

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
July 5th 2025


107378 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah last track could've had like 15 minutes shaved off and been just fine.

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
July 6th 2025


18719 Comments

Album Rating: 3.3

Enjoyed this, but the criticisms for this are valid, it stretches on for too long.

budgie
July 6th 2025


41273 Comments


thats what she said ha ha

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
July 6th 2025


18719 Comments

Album Rating: 3.3

you can have too much of a good thing

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
July 6th 2025


107378 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Last track is the only one that drags hard imo.



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