Sea Scouts – Beacon Of Hope

Beacon of Hope is the remastered reissue of Sea Scouts’ 1998 cult classic, a landmark album that blends dissonant noise rock, post-punk, and themes of alienation and isolation. Remastered by Dave Gardner, this first-ever vinyl edition brings the album’s jagged edges into sharper focus. Originally released on CD by vocalist/guitarist Tim Evans’ own Unstable Ape label and Laura MacFarlane’s Patsy Records, the album has remained an “IYKYK” among ‘90s underground music heads. This is partly, if not wholly, because they came from a tiny-but-mighty homegrown scene in Hobart, Tasmania. Unlike many of their Aussie peers, the trio managed to tour the US and Europe before calling it a day, quite a feat in the time before GPS or even cell phones.

Even twenty-six years after their final show, the small but loyal Sea Scouts fan base demanded a proper Beacon of Hope reissue. A masterpiece of an obscure scene in an obscure era unearthed, these eight songs capture a sonic landscape filled with dread, catharsis, and even the titular hope.