 Skerritt and Hoey reunited with original member Victor Utting and newly recruited drummer F. David Bower.They were joined in the studio by cellist Gareth Skinner, bassist Andrew Fuller, pedal-steel player Garrett Costigan and vocalist Emma Frichot who would all soon join the group on a permanent basis.Although not a commercial success, "A Beginner's Guide to the Sea" was met with critical acclaim with Drum Media declaring it "evocative, rousing, brilliant!"