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OCEANSIZE
WHAT TURNS YOU ON?
INDEPENDENT
CASSETTE
8
With their second album length tape Oxford's Oceansize deliver another 13
examples of power pop at its very best. Constantly evolving, their songwriting
just gets better and better. Tracks like 'Blow My Mind', 'Circus' and
'Superstar' show off the trio's growing self identity, sounding like no one else
but Oceansize. From the expected straightforward power pop of 'Sicily',
'Parasite' and 'Pressure' to the subtle Floyd meets Radiohead atmospherics of
'Saturn Night' (awesome middle eight) the song craft has been honed to near
perfection. Then they go and totally throw you with the sublime melody of 'Ten
Feet Tall' (complete with Donnie Iris style hand claps!) which is like mid
period U2 with better pop sensibilities. As if that wasn't enough 'Dream' is a
stunning mix of melodic power and Roy Orbison groove! 'Lunatic Soup' is driven
by Rich Elson's powerful feedbacking guitar work, Rich comes into his own on the
brooding title track where he lets fly with some mesmerizing work on the run
out. 'Blue Sky Black' boasts a great hook and lots of powerful chiming guitar.
'Conscience Calls' ends the album with a U2 meets REM twist, and another
amazingly melodic solo. When they come to compile their first proper album the
biggest problem will be deciding which tracks to pass over, and that's not even
considering the unrecorded new songs which, from their live airings, promise to
be even better. Oceansize are on a roll and 1997 should see them gathering the
momentum to begin breaking through to bigger and better things. The best
unsigned band in the UK - but surely not for much longer. The tape is available
for £5.00 cheques/orders made payable to: D.A. Reiber-Hodgson.
Contact: Oceansize, 9 Mallard Way, Grove, Wantage, Oxon., OX12 0QG, UK. Tel:
01235 768741 |
