Reviews

If a soundtrack could be made for walking the windswept and deserted streets of London at 2 a.m. on a Sunday morning; this would be it. Even the word ‘epic’ does not do justice to the second album from Oceansize, Everyone Into Position.

Hailing from Manchester, Oceansize are hoping that their second album will convert more people to their cause, and from the evidence presented here, it seems they are not taking any shortcuts to do it. With only one song coming in under five minutes, this album is an exercise in musical appreciation and a confident display of musical depth and piquancy. There is something here for everyone.

Blending everything from prog-rock to the dark and brooding melancholia of Coldplay, Everyone Into Position is an album that captivates. Sprawling epics such as ‘Ornament’ lurch from dark intimacy to explosive rock, whilst ‘Charm’ and ‘Heaven’ are driven with a pounding urgency that demands attention. However, perhaps the best song of them all is the ethereal ‘Music For A Nurse’; a song that captures an almost mournful fragility and slowly builds to a reluctant finale.

You can hear other influences here: Doves, Coldplay, Yes, Radiohead to name just a few, but Oceansize have come up with an album that is unique and challenging. No one ever said that being so good meant that you had to be accessible. Make no mistake; this album is challenging to listen to. But the pleasure comes from the effort applied and the emotional experience gleaned from being enveloped in the murky depths of Oceansize.