Single Review: The Sound the Sea Makes

Hummucide are an instrumental jazz-rock quartet hailing from Wellington.

Formed in Jazz school they did the house party circuit, playing their refined Jazz to indie audiences, a bold choice that paid off well and set them apart.

Fast forward to now, and this is their second single – The Sound the Sea Makes, from their debut album – Tides.

As with any instrumental sound, when vocals are taken out of the equation it makes you focus inherently on everything else, which sometimes can be a nice point of difference. Thankfully my job is made easier by the fact that what Hummucide have delivered is nothing short of stunning.

I don’t have the most refined Jazz palette but I hope I have done the song justice by saying, like all good Jazz, The Sound the Sea Makes is a great example of improvisation that takes you somewhere different. It’s hard to exactly put into words, but you get a sense of a story being told

There is also the sense that their sound isn’t really made for the typical lounge bars. Hummucide are a band you go to see live, while standing, maybe even with a beer in hand instead of a cocktail. Either way, I like their ambience and it’s nice to hear great musicianship with their own flair.