By: Hunter Young
Album Type: Split EP
Date Released:
23/10/2015
Label:
Pelagic
Records
Of the splits to cross the desk, this is one of the most well done
and well created albums to happen. Even though it's only about 24 minutes long,
this feels like it takes a while, in a good way, to happen to you. Highly
recommended if you want to calm the soul, and maybe push some boundaries for
yourself.
‘Transcendental’ CD//DD/LP track listing:
1).
The Ocean – The Quiet Observer
2).
Mono – Death In Reverse
The Review:
Waxing on about the grandness of 2 bands coming
together for a singular output has been spouted about for many earlier reviews,
so it's no surprise to bring you another amazing combination; that of Mono and The Ocean on their ‘Transcendental’ EP. These two musical
titans give a 1-2 combo right to the ear holes, laying out the very soul to
experience aural bliss.
The Ocean,
‘The Quiet Observer’: With a
propensity for crafting what is almost a musical movement, The Ocean
brings their very best on ‘The Quiet Observer’,
which is anything but a quiet player. Beginning with a slower, laid back and
soft piano and drum beat, it builds into a massive wall of progressive beauty
headed straight for you, as their vocalist lays you low with a most clean
delivery. Once the peak flows over you, They chug and alt pick under a good
cop/bad cop vocal trade off, coming off a bit like a NIN cover
by a hi fi prog band. Coming in just under 13 minutes, The Ocean
hit you with many of their talents, chief of which is perfect pacing and song
structuring, striking that balance between their playing and their classical
string sections that add both depth and shading to their offering on ‘Transcendental’. Pair with good bourbon
and a relaxed evening.
Mono, ‘Death in Reverse’: Beginning with a
clean guitar and some awesome reverb, Mono brings the heat
here. ‘Death in Reverse’ unfolds,
sonically, like being sucked into a wormhole and jettisoned out the other side.
As you slowly get your bearings back, you start to realize shapes out of the
strangeness around you. Their individual parts slowly roll up upon you like
astral bodies, slowly creating a tapestry all around your mind, building and
building until you reach the end of your journey, about 7 minutes into the 11,
and then you see this new songs star. Everything is beautiful in this track,
feeling crafted, instead of written, and equally balanced as The Ocean track preceding it. This speaks to the soul. Kind
of post everything, returning back into arrangement. Have a quiet, lonely night
for this one. Let it envelope you in its sound.
Of the splits to cross the desk, this is one of
the most well done and well created albums to happen. Even though it's only
about 24 minutes long, this feels like it takes a while, in a good way, to
happen to you. Highly recommended if you want to calm the soul, and maybe push
some boundaries for yourself.
‘Transcendental’
is available here
Band
info:
