British Sea Power, the English indie-rock group, will release its fourth non-soundtrack studio album, “Valhalla Dancehall,” tomorrow.
Recorded in southeast England and Scotland, “Valhalla Dancehall” will be one of the first large album releases in 2011. The album release also marks another chapter in the saga of a popular English rock band that has grabbed headlines for ambition as much as it has for its music.
Although the band has had enormous success in the U.K. with fans riding on the up-and-down roller coaster of British Sea Power’s existence, the band’s U.S. success has only been accompanied by a few East Coast tours, positive critical reviews and YouTube viewings in the hundreds of thousands.
So it’s understandable that the recreational music listeners don’t know the self-conscious, always actively attempting to be epic, sounds of British Sea Power. 
But with “Valhalla Dancehall,” British Sea Power is hoping the new album will catapult the band to an equal amount of popularity as it has received in the U.K.
Working as its own hype machine and playing to its indie-rock cred, the band labeled “Valhalla Dancehall” as “a mixture of Serge Gainsbourg and Ralf and Florian-era Kraftwerk with a sprinkle of Stock, Aitken and Waterman.”
Such a confusing description makes complete sense with British Sea Power, a band that has always sought headlines with its antics as well as its music.
Starting in Brighton, England in 2000, British Sea Power arrived as a group that received huge amounts of success in the U.K. for its unrelenting devotion to rock music and live shows.
Following the release of the group’s aptly named debut album, “The Decline of British Sea Power,” in 2003, the group became a hit. Although the album didn’t have much success initially, the band’s reputation combined with a strong word-of-mouth following, catapulted it to playing sellout shows all over the U.K., while selling around 60,000 copies the following two years.
Helping the band’s indie-rock, word-of-mouth appeal was its intricately involved live performances during each show. Each performance featured a stage that reflected the band’s love for the countryside, decorated in outdoor foliage with fake animals elaborately placed.
British Sea Power’s 2005 follow-up album, “Open Season,” reflected the band’s gained popularity by hitting #13 on UK charts and its hit single, “It Ended on an Oily Stage,” landing at #18.
Having garnered praise for such a distinct style of British rock, the band began receiving instant comparisons to other famous European bands, such as The Cure and U2.
With such strong comparisons and a growing following, British Sea Power began to gain large expectations. The expectations were something the band gladly accepted and invited.
In a string of interviews, the band became its own hype machine, announcing outrageous show locations in mine shafts and atop mountains. Matching these amazing locations was amazing music to go along with it.
Unfortunately, the band’s third studio release, “Do You Like Rock Music?,” which played with the theme that British Sea Power could play any form of rock, was not reviewed or received well.
Since that misstep, the band has strayed little from its goal of landing a major hit and catapulting to new heights.
British Sea Power’s “Valhalla Dancehall” can be purchased everywhere Jan. 11.
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