The word psychedelic can often be overused to the point it becomes so watered down it means little more than "that's kinda buzzy", but its history in music is revolutionary and foundational. What Oceanspace has managed to capture in their self-titled EP, is not just the musical qualities of a style of music, but the inner ethos of an artistic movement. Psychedelic artists like Pink Floyd, Hendrix and the Beatles were early pioneers of using whatever new tool came available to warp and manipulate their music to create something novel and unique. With this EP, Oceanspace continues that legacy by taking the last 50 years of music and blending it together in their own unique way to create something that sounds more an album from an alternate timeline rather than something from the past.

We Begin the EP with Dark Matter a crafty song that initially tricks you into believing what you had read about psychedelia and surf rock in the bio was a rouse as your confronted with a four on the floor driving kick paving the way for an authentic new wave/post punk ballad complete with melancholy baritone vocals wrestling with the existential conundrum of trying to balance love and madness with space and time. But just as you lay back in the spacious emptiness, left by the droning minimalist melodic instrumentation, and begin to contemplate your own conflicted reality that emptiness is suddenly filled by energetic 16ths on the high hats and a powerful synth hook that sustains the querying melancholy at the heart of the song but includes a triumphant sense of resilience. With effective use of dynamics and well placed story like guitar solo, Oceanspace is able to transform what was at first a bowed head, side shuffling 80's goth anthem into high cardio Dance club banger.

Oceanspace continues their genre blending style with the next track Witchy, the core of the song is formed around a catchy indie-rock guitar riff that would feel quite at home in the early 2000's, but instead of a dude mumble screaming though a vintage sounding mic, Nathan Seaver and Emma Moore exchange a theatrical vocal dialogue that channels Jefferson Aeroplane's fantastical lyrics with just a twinge of the B 52s call and response. A solid and melodically rich Bass line steers the song through its initial build up and into another energetic and sonically rich third act, again blending together the various discrete elements they have plucked from the musical ether and into something entirely new.

Hello Big Yellow sounds like a psychedelic jam from a music festival in 1969 spontaneously manifested in the midst of Oceanspace as they were crafting this EP. Brought to life through dueling electric guitars and a slow paced stomping rhythm section, it has that kind of dreamy openness and ethereal melodic drift you can only get from jamming that makes me wonder just how far the rabbit hole goes when this gets played live.

With its final song Sound of The Disco, Oceanspace pays homage to modern psychedelic legend's like Ween and King Gizzard and the lizard Wizard by refusing to be boxed in by the conforming borders genre bands often have to contend with. Sound of The Disco starts off as a somewhat whimsical acoustic ditty, hewn from the same stone as solo outsider artists like Daniel Johnston and Tiny Tim. Seabirds and gentle ocean sounds form the Mise-en-scène for Nathan's hymn-like vocals as his singing beckons forth an angelic, sirenesque response from Emma. But Just as you begin to fear that out protagonist is about to be consumed by a mythological seaborne entity, the band kicks in, and what was empty space is filled with grooving, effects laden guitar riffs, and thoughtfully placed but driving bass. Dominant percussion centres the rhythm section and gives an overall light footed feeling to the groove, sort of like it's floating just above the ground.

Oceanspace have put together an EP that defies classification as though it's more determined not to be pigeonholed than a claustrophobic budgie. But as far apart as the songs can feel taken one at a time, put together they paint a complete picture and show a clear sense of creative freedom and intention with masterful performances, complex arrangements and a superb use of studio tools that highlight and decorate a broad and dynamic sonic landscape.

• 1
  Head Like A Hole
• 2
  Horror Story
• 3
  Fraser Ross
• 4
  Fur Patrol
• 5
  Michelle Rounds
• 6
  L.A.B.
• 7
  Devilskin
• 8
  Coridian
• 9
  The Boondocks
• 10
  Late to Chelsea

• 
  LOST BiRD @ Space Academy, Christchurch - 15/12/2024
• 
  Just Janie @ Space Academy, Christchurch - 15/12/2024
• 
  Dream Chambers @ Meow Nui, Wellington - 14/12/2024
• 
  The Phoenix Foundation @ Meow Nui, Wellington - 14/12/2024

• 1
  APT.
  ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
• 2
  DIE WITH A SMILE
  Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
• 3
  BIRDS OF A FEATHER
  Billie Eilish
• 4
  TASTE
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 5
  I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
  Gracie Abrams
• 6
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 7
  SAILOR SONG
  Gigi Perez
• 8
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 9
  A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
  Shaboozey
• 10
  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
  Chappell Roan

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