Oshean: Live

The Russian label Mals often release albums by artists difficult to research in the hope of finding any real detail about the band and people involved in them. So it has proved with Oshean. This time the challenge has been made all the more difficult through the complete lack of info in the visually stunning, but informationally barren CD booklet that accompanies this release, with neither a list of musicians, or a website address included. Making Oshean a rather mysterious outfit - something that actually suits their plaintive space rock meets Krautrock. The band's unused MySpace page does reveal a little about the likes of Moonhead, who plays beautiful violin on Live and Alex who adds unflashy, solid drums and while the other band members do almost have full and proper names, it would appear that anonymity is the order of the day here.

Usually performed at mid-pace, Live, which isn't actually a live album, so may well be pronounced "l-i-v" (unsurprisingly I've no idea), lands somewhere close to the sprawling sweeps of sounds that early Porcupine Tree produced. However with vocalist Vlad Mj Wihner having an unexpected Bono like twang to his delivery, Live often sounds oddly commercial in a completely non-commercial kind of way. All of the songs conjure up music that easily washes over you, leaving images that hint and whisper at what their titles - "Noise", "Morning", "Mountain Song" for example - suggest. At volume the songs come to life, with a deep resonating production giving otherwise dreamy affairs a real bottom end thump, jolting you from your musings as the music carries you away with its intricate atmosphere. The themes move from deep and foreboding to bright and breezy, with, for the most part, the vocals punctuating the music with sounds and noises rather than actual lyrics. Leaving the music to paint the pictures and create the storyboard that this album definitely has.

At about an hour Live can drag in places and there's no denying that while the vibe does incorporate some Pink Floyd (Syd and Glimour/Waters eras) and latter day Marillion, things can begin to get a little samey as you wade through the thick waves of sound. That said if you have the luxury to really sit and concentrate on this album, preferably through a good set of headphones, or cracking set of speakers, then the music takes on a vibrancy that under other circumstances is completely lost. Live is an interesting, involving, yet introverted and self indulgent album that caresses and cajoles you with charms that are harder and harder to resist the more time you spend with it. But beware it will only unlock its secrets during solitary excursions...

Track Listing
1. Noise
2. Sailor Song
3. 7/6
4. Morning
5. Prayer
6. Rain & Wind
7. Mountain Song

Added: July 21st 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Oshean on MySpace
Hits: 2656
Language: english

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