A funk-soaked, electro-charged EP that isn’t afraid to get weird, Return to the Sea of Green grabs you from the first beat and refuses to let go.
This Love Is Drone & The 555 deliver a vibrant, groove-forward collaboration—Return to the Sea of Green lands an enthusiastic 4/5.
Equal parts gritty rock, inventive remixing, and synth-driven flair, this EP proves both artists are gearing up for an exciting new chapter.
There’s something magnetic about Return to the Sea of Green—a collaborative EP that buzzes with electric color, funky grooves, and a playful willingness to warp, twist, and reimagine its own sonic DNA. This Love Is Drone teams up with The 555 to build a tight, experimental little universe where rhythm is king and atmosphere fills every corner. It’s vibrant, gutsy, delightfully weird… and honestly, a blast.
From the jump, the EP announces itself with confidence. There’s a crisp, funky electro feel threaded through the entire project—burbling synths, rubber-band basslines, and a sense of motion that never slips out of gear. Even at its most experimental, the record keeps a pulse that invites you in rather than alienating you. It’s adventurous, but it’s also fun.
The one completely new track, “Flesh-Ripper,” is an absolute standout. It’s a groovy rock tune drenched in a bit of sludge—thick tones, gritty edges—but always anchored by a beat that punches forward with swagger. The result is something that struts as much as it smolders. If this is a preview of where This Love Is Drone is headed on their upcoming spring/summer 2026 tour, fans are in for a treat.
The remaining tracks—Parts I, II, and III—are remixes crafted by The 555, and each one digs into the source material from a different angle. All three are instrumentals, but none of them feel empty; instead, they bloom with texture and momentum.
Part I (Angst)
A spacious, almost cinematic opener. It feels like slipping into the EP’s world for the second time, but with a different color filter.
Part II (Anguish)
My personal favourite. There’s a sharp, rhythmic snap to it—something that conjures old-school Contra vibes with its darting synth leads and propulsive undertones. It’s tense, cool, and incredibly catchy without ever needing a vocal line.
Part III (Agnes)
The most atmospheric of the set, washing the earlier energy into something hazier and more hypnotic. It’s a clever closing stretch—softening the edges without losing the groove.
Return to the Sea of Green is short, bold, and bursting with character. The partnership between This Love Is Drone and The 555 feels natural, with each remix adding genuine value rather than padding. And with a tour on the horizon for 2026, this EP feels like a warm-up lap—a signal that the creative engine is revving up for something big.
