Effloresce

Description

Beggars Arkive announce the remastered vinyl reissue of Oceansizes stunning 2003 debut Effloresce. The albums twelve tracks mix shimmering, atmospheric soundscapes, with insistent drums and their trademark hypnotic, three-guitar attack, which catapulted them to the forefront of the so-called new prog revolution of the 2000s. Echoing the expansive instrumentals of Mogwai, the rock-experimentalism of Janes Addiction and the sonic onslaught of My Bloody Valentine, Oceansize scaled new heights of grandiose, ethereal and utterly captivating music.

Its rare for a name to so eloquently sum up a band and yet for Oceansize, their moniker only scratched the surface of the vast depths of musicianship displayed within this quintet. Hailing from Manchester, Oceansize owed nothing to the citys most renowned acts. Instead Oceansize followed their own musical paths to stunning effect, from their formation in 1998 to the bands break-up in 2011.

Comprising Mike Vennart (lead vocals / guitar), Steve Durose (guitar/ vocals), Gambler (guitar), Jon Ellis (bass) and Mark Heron (drums), Oceansize met whilst studying at Salford University. They self-released their first EP Amputee in 1999, followed by the A Very Still Moment EP before signing to Beggars Banquet in 2000. They released the Relapse EP via the label in 2002, with production by one of their heroes, Tim Smith from Cardiacs. Tracks from those EPs such as Amputee and Saturday Morning Breakfast Show found their way on to their debut album.

Effloresce which means to burst forth into or as if into a flower was originally released on 29 September 2003. All the tracks were recorded and produced by Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Feeder) during Spring / Summer 2003. The album includes the singles Catalyst, Remember Where You Are and One Day All Could be Yours as well as the tracks Long Forgotten and Massive Bereavement, which feature mesmerising strings from cello, violin and viola duo Martin & Kimberley McCarrick.

At the time, the band described Effloresce as: a schizophrenic album: blissed-out highs to brooding lows with violent outbursts in between. We want to send the listener on a journey through the euphoric and the terrifying an emotional rollercoaster that they can immerse themselves in. Like all our favourite records, once youve allowed it to grab you, youre in it for the long haul. Oh, and it rocks like a bastard, too.

The album gained critical accolades, with the press comparing them favourably to bands like Mogwai, Tool, Nirvana, Janes Addiction, My Bloody Valentine, Can and Faith No More, among others. Rolling Stone described it as an hour-plus of guitar-army paradise.