Prog rockers Oceansize release limited edition EP Home & Minor

Manchester progressive rock band, dared to innovate when others followed. Now they're back with their fifth EP Home & Minor, released on Superball Music on October 26.

The EP has been limited to 3000 copies for those lucky enough to be able to get their hands on one. Vocalist and guitarist Mike Vennart, has previously said of the EP; "We thought we’d try and make a mini-album of more reserved songs that have something in common with each other. It's our acoustic-like record, only there are no acoustic instruments and it’s not an album!"

The EP opens with Legal Teens, a track that is pure Oceansize; atmospheric and ambient. It echoes of Elbow with beautiful, multi-layered melodies, it cascades into a typically complicated and exceptional electronic outro that rounds off the journey that Oceansize take you on with every track.

Leading onto Getting Where Water Cannot, the track is acoustic - living up to Mike’s description of the album. It reminded me of Incubus ballads. There is great drum work and a lovely brass section that differentiates it from any other dull acoustic track. However, this is the weakest track on the EP, not particularly evoking any emotion or inspiration. However, it is a fantastic lead to the exceptional track Monodrones, which opens with the most spine-tingling and chilling opener. This is more soundscapey and transports you to a haunting city in mid-winter, watching your breath leave your mouth.

The title track Home & Minor has a beautiful feel to it, I can only describe it as plinky-plonky, but that doesn’t do it justice! It has elements of xylophone and feels like happiness in sonic form.

Didnealand was another track that didn’t quite strike the right cord with me. It felt in parts that it had stolen parts from Radiohead’s Everything In It’s Right Place from seminal album Kid A (this is sacrilege to me), however despite this it still left me a bit cold.

Final track The Strand was not about the Savoy or the Bow Bells. It was a melancholic, dark and torturous track. Filled with atmospheric and depressive vocals that flowed through the song - topping off the overall feel. I can see this working a dark arthouse movie. This was the stand-out track of the EP and worthy of a Novello or Mercury (if those sorts of accolades mean anything).

Overall, the EP was good but lacked the innovation and edginess that previous albums Effloresce and Everything Into Position did to a tee. These albums were soundscape, experimental, dark and spunk-filled. Every artist has to evolve and art imitates life, however this EP takes you on a semi-journey and not one that you would want to re-visit.

3 out of 5

www.oceansize.co.uk
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