Mission to the Sea

"Why waste money on flowers to woo the object of your affection? Playing Mission to the Sea's debut album, Tranquilo, could easily do the same. Besides, roses can't tango or serenade. Written and performed by Dallas artist Decker Sachse, Mission to the Sea's romantic, Latin-tinged tunes blossom patiently, like halcyon strolls. Some songs have a dubious adult-contemporary feel – the sort of thing that would feel at home in the impulse-buy case on the counter at Starbucks. But, at its best moments ("Pearl for a Heart"), Tranquilo is breezy bossa nova in a three-piece-suit: slinky jazz-folk with finger-picked classical guitars and lush arrangements." - Quick DFW

Lockhart is better known for slow-smoked barbecue joints than visions of bossa nova-tinged pop-rock. Yet the Central Texas town is where Dallas-based singer-songwriter Decker Sachse laid down the hypnotic tracks that make up his band's full-length debut. Tranquilo, produced by Sachse and Deadman's Steven Collins, unfurls like a drowsy, island breeze-kissed dream. Sachse keeps things even-keeled throughout nine originals and an affecting, ukelele-limned cover of Morrissey's Everyday Is Like Sunday. It's a captivating hybrid of tropical mood and sly pop smarts.

- Preston Jones - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"... Combining the Latin-tinged flavors of bossa nova, flamenco, and jazz, Mission to Sea have themselves what’s sure to become an award-winning EP. The folky side of the music is refreshing and even enlightening to say the least. I’m sure it’s only a small matter of time before there’s plenty of record labels who would love to represent Mission to Sea and their impending huge album sales." - J-Sin - Smother.net

"The textures are light and smooth, and the style is reminiscent of a Jack Johnson in his peaceful mode - quite the audible treat ... For an EP that lasts only a few minutes, the sounds contained on said album are enduring." - Chris Lewis / Shut Eye - Shut Eye

"Sombre Texan Decker Sachse writes lonely, whispered folk-pop tunes coloured with bossa nova polyrhythyms and the romantic sparkle of the Smiths. Good stuff." - Toronto Star

From a list of 788 bands, Bob Boilen of NPR picked Mission to the Sea as one of several that he would like to hear more of at 2008's SXSW music conference ... - NPR