By The Sea/Miracles is the double aA single taken from Beat the Radar’s debut album “To The City, From the Sea”. Produced by Tom Knott of The Earlies at Airtight studios in the deepest depths of South Manchester, but inspired by the band’s breezier days living on the coast, you could call it the point where the sand meets the suburbs. Surprisingly we’re not talking about singer Jonny’s recent Soviet adventures after volunteering in Russia – only finding himself followed by the secret service when he did. Kicking off with one of the first songs written together during their early practices in Lancaster before relocating to Manchester, adopted hometown and city of their heroes (The Smiths, New Order, The Fall and The Stone Roses), By The Sea finds the extraordinary in the ordinary, and ambition from the things even closest to home. “It’s about escapism,” says Swift. “I’ve pretty much always lived by the coast and the sea has often come as a source of inspiration and comfort to me.” On its flip one of Swift’s personal favourites, Miracles. Full of Waterfull-esque swagger, it’s another song of longing, but oozing positivity at the same time. “The lyrics are about searching and hoping for something or someone,” explains Swift. “Although the word ‘love’ appears in there quite a bit, I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s a love song. People are intelligent enough to make up their own minds.” But there’s much more to Beat The Radar’s mix – listen closely and a rich seam of US indie influences from Sonic Youth to early REM and Sebadoh run throughout.“By The Sea’s middle stabby bit was actually inspired by Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘Here Is No Why’,” reveals Laurie. Support slots with The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The Longcut and The Answering Machine followed with their two singles to date Telephone Conversation and 18,19,20,21,22 receiving strong support from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Huw Stephens, and XFM’s John Kennedy.
