Oceansize
Tivoli De Helling, Utrecht
16/12/03
Oceansize started their set in support of Aereogramme with as much noise as five men can humanly muster. If it was meant to shock, it probably did, but out of the chaos the figures onstage suddenly left their hunched positions and stood resolutely; backs straight, like soldiers ready to take on the audience, as the opening crunch of ‘Catalyst’ suddenly fell into place. It was then that the syncopation taking place between the three guitarists started to confuse both the ears and the eyes, as you try to conceive of who is playing what and how. Then somehow everyone snaps into the same groove and the real force of the song is unleashed.
Just a matter of days before this show I hadn’t listened to this band effectively, but after finally taking the time to become familiar with their album Effloresce, it had only taken three minutes to show just how strong these guys could be in person. Perhaps it was helped by the tour nearing its conclusion, or maybe they always play with such strength. Either way, this performance was tight. With such a depth in musicianship, it’s actually impossible to imagine them playing a more solid show.
Following ‘Catalyst’ was ‘One Day All This Could Be Yours’. In terms of length it’s comparatively a pop song alongside some of the other tunes, but it’s also a slow burner, letting the bass and drums create a hypnotic foundation while the guitars add continual layers of ambience. Part of the strength of this song is how it displays Oceansize’s ability to control the song every step of the way without throwing caution to the wind and just letting loose chaotic noise, and it’s no wonder that it’s a staple part of their show.
By this point, the ending of each song was warranting a strong reaction from an audience supposedly unfamiliar with them. It was also the moment where the words, “This one is called ‘Massive Bereavement’,” got a very positive cheer weirdly enough. Clocking in at ten minutes on record, it seemed a challenge to be attempting songs like this in a shortened support slot, but it seemed to pay off. The song has lots of variation to offer and at some point each member of the band got to perform at least one outstanding part, one of the most memorable being some of the cymbal play taking place in the middle. Apparently the length of the song did not even deter anyone, with the ending receiving an even louder roar of approval.
The last song of their set was to be ‘Saturday Morning Breakfast Show’, another long number, and apparently brave choice when they have shorter songs like ‘Amputee’ in their arsenal. However, Oceansize clearly have both confidence in their ability and songwriting to sell a song to any audience no matter the length, and again, it seems they were proved right. The first half of the song demonstrating their ability to mix subtlety with careful verses, eventually building up to the heavier outburst, and then taking it right back down and with riffs that are as gentle as can be.
Eventually one final outburst is reached as the guitars screech out what sounds like the ‘Immigrant Song’ in half-time and suddenly someone clicks rewind on the tape player. Once again they snap back into synchronised rigidity as the final blows are hammered home, before keeling off to their slumped aural chaos, then finally crashing out to silence.
Steven McCarron
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