Band : Oceansize
Album title : Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up
Label : Candlelight Records
Distributor : Plastic Head Distribution
Release date : 25/10/2010
Review : CD

It's hard to exactly categorize the music on Oceansize’s newest release Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up, but threads of progressive, post, kraut and indie rock are all at the core. This band is an acquired taste, and that's not to speak of them negatively. One thing remains constant though: this UK quintet keeps writing intelligent and interesting music combining power and beauty. Their rock is subtle, intricate and contains progressive time signatures in many instances.

As for the songs "Part cardiac” with its stomping rhythm, sounds like a lost Mastodon tune; "Ransoms" is a fancy Radiohead like number and "Super imposter” is saccharine rock with convincing vocals by Mike Vennart. Some other songs : the hyper nervous “Build us a rocket then…” and  “It’s my tail and I’ll chase it if I want to” have a The Mars Volta flavor, only less guitar solo obsessed.

Strangely, and despite the diversity, the album does manage to hold as a whole.

90/100

Cosmicmasseur.