Oceansize
Effloresce

THE REVIEW

I am the morning. Give me just a moment to collect my thoughts: it's 4:50 PM and I've just completed a 75-minute lysergic exploratory journey, concluding with a return to the starting point, which I must necessarily refer to in the account of Effloresce, the new - for many, but not for all - fruit of a Madchester increasingly broad-minded and far from the rock stereotypes so dear to the enemy. They are Oceansize, a young and promising band of which, unless they end up like Vex Red, we will hear a lot in the days to come.

I am the morning arises from a blend of 4 well-amalgamated guitars, without saturating the sound that instead remains effectively focused, mixed to highlight the tremolo of a first guitar, followed by the intertwining of 2 parallel but complementary riffs, the chords of an acoustic in the background, and, with the entry of the rhythm section, the porcupine-like delay transposed without excess into the already complex structure of the song: a splendid instrumental piece. Oceansize sound like a band that practices precious jam sessions in their rehearsal room, in search of innovative combinations bordering only slightly on psychedelia, without giving up typically British sounds. How else to describe the ten acid, sonic minutes of Massive Bereavement, where, having abandoned the canonical pop form without remorse, you suddenly find yourself among Slint meeting and crossing Jonny Greenwood's guitar, and the use of voice as a true additional instrument to the very successful combo formed by the other members of the group. Rinsed clears away any remaining doubts: we are facing a group of guys who "know music," so much that between post-rock in the school of Mogwai and the sulfurous reverb of a distant guitar, vervian reminiscences also appear - Nick McCabe must have left something good - leading us straight to You Wish, another track full of references to other illustrious names, but maintaining, like the entire album, its own distinct and promising personality. Yes, because whether Oceansize decide to continue their artistic journey on these unusual paths, or choose to slightly approach the mainstream with less complex structures or at least more direct and easily memorable melodies - this album is certainly not easy listening - betting on them today is like betting on the victory of an African athlete in the 5000 meters flat final. Low odds.

Released by Beggars Banquet, Effloresce was one of the best debut albums of 2003, and these days there is talk of the release of an Extended Playing with unreleased material. The next time you visit a well-stocked music store, ask to listen to it: One Day All This Could Be Yours.