“Last night // I thought I could smell // Melancholy // For the first time // At least in a while // Last night // I thought I could see // All of my friends // At the same time // Well just the ones I like // Face pressed // Against the screw // Eyes shut // Where have I been // The last hour // Disappeared // Big thoughts between my ears // Swept up // I sense the past // The present // And the future // All at once // It hits me all at once”

Pure poetry meets perfect production. After years of constant reinvention, South London baroque-pop outfit Tugboat Captain have arrived at a record that brings everything together. All At Once expands the band’s DIY foundations with atmospheric synth textures, sweeping arrangements, and melodies that never lose sight of the emotional core beneath the sonic sprawl.

The twelve songs capture heartbreak, uncertainty, and the unsettling feeling of life shifting beneath your feet. The imaginative lyrics trace people carrying invisible burdens, searching for meaning while refusing to stop moving, even when the destination remains unclear. Elsewhere, memories, love, and loss blur together until past, present, and future collide in a single overwhelming moment.

This album is ambitious without becoming bloated, vulnerable without slipping into self-pity. The spacious orchestration and magnetic vocals—somewhat reminiscent of The Frames—hold your attention from the opening note to the final fade.

All At Once is out digitally and on vinyl LP (self-released). Featuring Alexander “Sox” Sokolow (vocals), Joshua Cobb (bass), Georgia Mancey (drums), Sophia Bartlett (violin, and Dougal James (keyboard), with contributions from Linfa Kear (flute), Eliza Dunhill (trumpet), Rhys Underdown clarinet), and the Ctrl P Community Choir (vocals).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp