Oceansize: Frames

After issuing a string of EPs and singles, United Kingdom's Oceansize made a strong start with their highly acclaimed debut Effloresce in 2003 and backed it up with Everyone into Position two years later. Though there is no general consensus as to which album is more successful, it seems the opinions are based on the listeners' expectations moreso than the musical quality put on display.

In many ways, Frames evokes the denser, more detailed sound of Effloresce, in part because it was produced by the same engineer, Chris Sheldon. Unlike the Coldplay guy who worked on Everyone into Position, Sheldon favours a sharper production with more space. That, however, is where the similarities between the first and third albums end, as Frames sees the band expand on a more accessible soundscape than either of its predecessors. With the exception of track two, "Unfamiliar", the album forges its own path relying heavily on atmospheric depth and melancholy-inducing elements.

The aforementioned "Unfamiliar" feels like a leftover from their earlier sessions, given its brisk rhythm guitar attacks, alternative rock-styled vocal delivery which occasionally borders on aggressive onslaughts, and heavy finish, amidst a dense pool of wailing guitars and pounding drum beats. It is questionable how well this kind of aggression suits the otherwise mid-tempo-paced material on the album, one exception being "Sleeping Dogs and Dead Lions". However, the tracklisting of Frames deems it necessary for such a bludgeoning piece to appear between the experimental instrumental cut and powerful finale. This song unleashes a wave of dissonance, rarely heard on their other albums, and erupts into a bass-centred rhythm, underpinned by maniacal screaming, heavy drum syncopation, and violent, relatively more technical instrumentation.

The frequent incorporation of synths on some of the tunes has rendered them more spacey, particularly on "Trail of Fire" and "Savant". The former is a ballad-like anthem, focusing on solo piano; and a steady, powerful build-up with lofty acoustic guitars and whisper-like vocal manipulations. Oceansize creates an epic in the form of "Savant": it has a cinematic bent to it, sort of like a movie soundtrack. Driven by drawn-out instruments, mellow vocal lines, and cool percussion, the ending boasts an almost classically inspired coda -- it's truly beautiful.

Vocalist Mike Vennart gives a semi-spoken, semi-sung performance on "Only Twin", surrounded by shades of synth layers, and a tenacious, drum machine-like cadence. However, it isn't until the ten-minute instrumental "An Old Friend of the Christies" kicks in when it becomes apparent how talented this young band really is. The funereal acoustic guitars, doomy drumming a la early 90's British doom acts, and a lucid string element form the framework for the ambitious composition. Halfway through, three-part guitar melodies are filtered through myriad sound effects in order to create a thicker, heavier body. The way each repeated note grows to an epic-size monster at the end is testimony to their potential.

The first and last songs are in a way direct opposites to each other. The opener boasts overtly repeated guitar notes overlapping the big drum sound and rising to complex crescendos, whilst the title track, another ten-minute cut, is slightly reminiscent of Godspeed You Black Emperor with vocals. As the band produces strong melodies and sprinkles single-note acoustic bits throughout the piece, the vocalist's desperate croon works phenomenally atop the discreet keyboard line, not to mention the final guitar at the very end. Those who won't sit through the album patiently will unfortunately miss out on one of the most beautifully constructed melodies of the year.

With that said, and while wholeheartedly agreeing that Frames is bound to become Oceansize's breakthrough, I cannot help but think the best from them is yet to come. Once they continue to refine their songcraft with their huge creative range, more people will discover them. The addition of greater amount of post-rock sounds and progressive structures into their albums will surely culminate in more accomplished efforts in the future.

I personally was reluctant to check Frames out right away, having heard their previous two discs and evaluating them as "good but not great" albums. However, once I saw the album listed in Steven Wilson's playlist, I decided to give it a chance -- I'm glad I did. This is their best work so far, but they will surpass it -- they can.

(Please note that the promo copy of the CD that has been circulating around for a while is an unmastered version, and thus does not represent the full quality of the record. I highly recommend checking out the real version before forming a final opinion.)

Track Listing

1. Commemorative T-Shirt
2. Unfamiliar
3. Trail of Fire
4. Savant
5. Only Twin
6. An Old Friend of the Christies
7. Sleeping Dogs and Dead Lions
8. The Frame

Added: July 6th 2009
Reviewer: Murat Batmaz
Score:
Related Link: Oceansize website
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Language: english

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