hape.Heliocentric is the follow to 2007’s elaborate Precambrian double album, a soaring piece of work that didn’t yield the positive results for the band that the music warranted. It was a victory, but a somewhat hollow and bitter one, as then The Ocean’s membership began to brittle off.
However, while members changed, the bold and meticulous nature hasn’t. This fourth effort is a concept record, beginning with heliocentricity, Galileo’s view that the earth revolves around the sun. From there it wades through various scientific discoveries with the album concluding on the tracks 'The Origin Of Species' and 'The Origin Of God', odes to Darwin and Richard Dawkins. This record will be followed by another by the year’s end – Anthropocentric, exhibiting some opposite ideas in concept. So to point out the agonisingly obvious, The Ocean are an ambitious collective.
An eerily calm intro in 'Shamayim' gives way to Heliocentric’s first track proper 'Firmament', a crushing and sprawling statement of intent for the record with Rossetti delivering sterling and harrowing vocals.
As whole the record is heaving with dynamic and textured melodies like that of 'Swallowed By The Earth' and devastating yet ornate and poignant passages that would tickle Isis’ and Mastodon’s sensibilities. All ten tracks with ease lay testament to this assiduous and rigorous blend.
Heliocentric includes a multitude of guest and sessions musicians bringing cellos, violins and trombones to its already vastly garnished palette. The album doesn’t for a moment fear its own experimentation delving into piano led balladry on 'Ptolemy Was Wrong'.
The Ocean have exceeded any expectation here with Heliocentric. After in-band turmoil and uncertainties about their future it’s genuinely exciting to see a record so exhilarating being slapped down on the table and demanding your attention.
However, while members changed, the bold and meticulous nature hasn’t. This fourth effort is a concept record, beginning with heliocentricity, Galileo’s view that the earth revolves around the sun. From there it wades through various scientific discoveries with the album concluding on the tracks 'The Origin Of Species' and 'The Origin Of God', odes to Darwin and Richard Dawkins. This record will be followed by another by the year’s end – Anthropocentric, exhibiting some opposite ideas in concept. So to point out the agonisingly obvious, The Ocean are an ambitious collective.
An eerily calm intro in 'Shamayim' gives way to Heliocentric’s first track proper 'Firmament', a crushing and sprawling statement of intent for the record with Rossetti delivering sterling and harrowing vocals.
As whole the record is heaving with dynamic and textured melodies like that of 'Swallowed By The Earth' and devastating yet ornate and poignant passages that would tickle Isis’ and Mastodon’s sensibilities. All ten tracks with ease lay testament to this assiduous and rigorous blend.
Heliocentric includes a multitude of guest and sessions musicians bringing cellos, violins and trombones to its already vastly garnished palette. The album doesn’t for a moment fear its own experimentation delving into piano led balladry on 'Ptolemy Was Wrong'.
The Ocean have exceeded any expectation here with Heliocentric. After in-band turmoil and uncertainties about their future it’s genuinely exciting to see a record so exhilarating being slapped down on the table and demanding your attention.
8/10
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