Oceansize finally get a thread of their own...C/D?

from that so called Music For Your Ears site:

thanks Tish & Maleko12!

The plentiful, yet unhealthy musical landscape currently inherited can be explained simply by consumer demand. Popular culture resembles a Big Mac – cheap, quick to fill, but also lacking a key component to long-term pleasure – substance. For every well-intentioned, honest standout artist, five individuals with a resemblance to Ke$ha will follow. With that being said, over Oceansize’s ten-plus year career, these five Brits have served as a symbolic 16 oz. steak, packing their obtuse compositions with plenty of substance, leaving many a listener over the years feeling more than satisfied after a spin of a record or two.

When commenting on the album, guitarist Gambler stated, “Most of the songs are shorter, more concise. We didn’t set out to write shorter songs, it just happened; we didn’t feel the need to drag them out and elaborate on them any further than necessary. I think we’ve been tarred with the ‘oh-they-write-long-proggy-songs’ brush so I think a few people will be quite surprised”. By reading between the lines did this mean that Oceansize were destined to sell out and subject their work to mass consumption by purging themselves of substance? Luckily, while utilizing more succinct songwriting, Oceansize’s latest release, Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up, finds the group maintaining their hearty artisanship and at the same time trimming the excess fat, making their fourth full length release arguably their finest record yet.

The quintet begins their latest endeavor with the uncharacteristically abrasive “Part Cardiac.” Opening with ominous feedback, the initially sparse soundscape erupts with chunky guitars and the operatic vocals of front man and guitarist Mike Vennart. The aforementioned commented earlier in the album’s conception that “…there’s one tune that we’re just practicing at the moment that is just the f**ckin’ loudest, most obnoxious, sludgy, horrible, heaviest thing we’ve ever done.” If this reviewer was a betting man, “Part Cardiac” would fit this description wonderfully. In the least, the opener introduces the listener to a sleeker, more muscular version of the band.

Following closely behind “Part Cardiac” is first release, “SuperImposer.” Here, Mark Heron on skins embraces the spotlight as he pulverizes everything within arm’s reach, creating a steady, upbeat backbone on which the four other members stick to. While not nearly as memorable, third track “Build Us a Rocket Then…” maintains Oceansize’s shockingly blistering pace as Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up reaches its middle portion.

Older fans, take a deep breath as the more timid and restrained Oceansize of yesteryear are still very present on their latest full length as the middle portion of the release demonstrates the group downshifting into slower material all the while stirring up a captivating atmosphere. “Oscar Acceptance Speech” is an extended eight-minute daze of a song as Vennart croons over subdued piano and the steady beats of Heron. About halfway through the piece is when the music decrescendos into a minimal, still utterly stunning orchestral movement that will leave one breathless. “A Penny’s Weight” continues the album’s more tranquil mid-section with a composition built on the strength of vocalists and guitarists Vennart and Steve Durose. Both men shine with their voices as the melodies presented create the airy backdrop on which the rest of the song floats. Closing the middle portion is another eight-minute adventure entitled “Silent/Transparent.” Opening quietly, the seventh piece on the album unwinds like a traditional post-rock composition – crawling at first, locating its feet, and finally sprinting to the finish line in grand fashion.

Rounding out the album, “It’s My Tail And I’ll Chase It If I Want To” resurrects the initial energy found on the beginning of the record with bombastic blasts of guitar, inadvertently giving the piece an almost euphoric sensation that rejuvenates the listener. Finally, “Pine” serves as the final highlight to an album chock full of sensational songwriting. Better have those Kleenex ready as “Pine” comes across as the most vulnerable and moving track on the album, featuring a passionate singing performance by Vennart, accompanied by a touching string section bound to make one’s icy heart melt. Without a doubt, “Pine” is one of the most remarkable compositions Oceansize have put to tape.

Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up finds Oceansize scaling back the grandiose in favor of more streamlined, accessible material and the music presented is all the better because of these alterations. While a couple tracks suffer from less memorable songwriting, most notably “Ransoms” and “SuperImposter,” emotions are more exposed, variation is better explored, and the songwriting is increasingly dynamic on the group’s fourth and latest release. With a more digestible product, Oceansize is bound to receive the attention and acclaim they desperately deserve as the material these Brits have prepared is boundless in ambition and timeless in appeal.

Tracklisting:

Part Cardiac
SuperImposer
Build Us A Rocket Then…
Oscar Acceptance Speech
Ransoms
A Penny’s Weight
Silent/Transparent
It’s My Tail And I’ll Chase It If I Want To
Pine

Album's here:
http://www.we7.com/#/album/Oceansize/Self-Preserved-While-The-Bodies-Float-Up

Thoughts:
Despite being marginally patchier than their other albums, it's very good, and has the Oceansize poise between brutality and delicacy down to a fine art. The first two tracks are both stunning (and borrow not just the name but the melodic sensibility from a certain band I quite like). Would say that there is an unfortunate weak point, namely the last three minutes of the otherwise gorgeous and headspinning Oscar Acceptance Speech (yeah, an orchestral wind-down is all well and good but Savant did it way better and this doesn't appear to have much point except 'oh look! profound!' although I am not ruling out a Damascene conversion) and the subsequent Ransoms which is boring. Fortunately, the lovely A Penny's Weight prevents Ransoms from inflicting too much damage. Silent/Transparent builds to a fairly mighty climax which is then completely overshadowed by the outstanding It's My Tail, probably alongside that opening gambit the best song on the album and one of the band's finest creations. Pine is like Ransoms but better, although still not particularly interesting - the sort of song that will probably grow on me. SuperImposter is fucking awesome - it's got real avant-rock soul, if that doesn't sound too preposterous - a leaner take on Voorhees, if you will.

Now I'm back listening to Part Cardiac and wishing the whole album were a bit more like these first two tracks - with a few deeply honourable exceptions (Savant, Long Forgotten, Unravel, some of the Home And Minor EP, Relapse, A Penny's Weight) I really do prefer this band when they're kicking ass.

and by 'some of the Home And Minor EP' I kinda mean The Strand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QywBlxdXd-o

kickassssssss

promising

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkc9A_wDh08

That's really good! I do like Vennart's first album though it's more straightforward than Oceansize.

apparently he has gone all-in on the C******s worship this time around

Yeah I can hear it, on that track at least :D

yeah it's a good album