(PR) One of the UK's true innovators, Oceansize have carved a unique place for themselves in the music scene. Their previous albums Effloresce, Everyone Into Position and Frames have been critically acclaimed, which is due to the fact that Oceansize look to do things differently than the mainstream. Their sound might be progressive but never forgets the importance of a good song. With their last release, the comprehensive and strictly limited 3DVD+4CD box-set Feed To Feed, Oceansize had further underlined their status as an unusual band. The audio-visual document was recorded during a series of three gigs the band played at Manchester's Roadhouse in October 2008 to celebrate their tenth anniversary. Each gig was dedicated to a single Oceansize album - Effloresce, Everyone into Position and 2007's acclaimed Frames. The 3 DVDs are accompanied by the matching live-CDs as well as a 4th bonus audio-disc with the shows' encores.
Now, a project Oceansize had in mind for a long time finally took shape - the Home & Minor-EP: Everyone under the sun did their 'MTV Unplugged' session, David St. Hubbins had his collection of acoustic numbers with the London Philharmonic, Bernie Winters had Schnorbitz and, at long last, here is the Oceansize equivalent, the Home & Minor EP. This offering is only available digitally on either ITunes or all other digital download stores.
Fear not, Oceansize haven't gone acoustic. There are no "More Than Words" moments to be found here. Indeed, there's not even actually any acoustic guitar anywhere on it. Moreover, this is a short* collection of the bands more 'settled' numbers. More reserved, with not a distortion pedal in sight**, this lovely EP is a realization of a plan that's been kicking around their collective brains since before they signed in 2002. "Where in the past we've crowbarred-in every single dynamic, idea and style we could think of into a record, we thought it best this time to present a more thematic and cohesive collection, so's not to disrupt the more fainted-hearted listener from their blub-induced slumber." - Mike Vennart (vocals, guitars)
Still, it covers plenty of ground, and features a fair few Oceansize firsts such as trumpets, pedal-steel guitar as well as a bit of pumping techno *** and some additional vocals from Kate Ray. It is also the first Oceansize record to be made in the bands as-yet-unnamed studio in Manchester.
Oceansize are currently holed up in their little bubble, writing f**king reams and reams of material for the next album, some of which is the band's loudest and most fruity yet. But that's all in the future....
In the not too distant future, between October and December 2009 Oceansize will play another European headlining tour after proving their stunning live-quality multiple times with diverse acts such as Porcupine Tree, Coheed & Cambria, Fightstar and Biffy Clyro apart from numerous sold-out headlining shows in the past. Plus there are bigger things ahead of them...
OCEANSIZE Home & Minor (32:01) tracklisting:
1. Legal Teens (4:28)
2. Getting Where Water Cannot (5:23)
3. Monodrones (2:34)
4. Home & Minor (8:10)
5. Didnealand (3:22)
6. The Strand (8:03)