Full disclosure: I may have delayed writing his review a bit longer than necessary, because had I done it earlier, there would have been less excuse for having left this album out of my favourite albums of 2020 post. Yeah, I know what you're saying: why not just include it there? Well, it either just very slightly didn't make the cut - or there was no fitting category to put it into.
But that's all yesterday's concern now anyway. I'd probably evaluate my favorites different in a couple of months, so you shouldn't take them too serious either. Generally just check out everything I'm recommending, no matter if it gets an extra list treatment or not, right?
OUR OCEANS - While Time Disappears (LP) (2020)
Five years after their self-titled debut here comes the sophomore album of Our Oceans, the Dutch former quartet / now trio featuring members of the ex-instrumental-jazz/metal fusion band Exivious, who of course also received acclaim as post reunion members of Cynic.
Speaking of the latter, 2020 has been an especially sad year for Cynic fans, since it began with the passing of drum legend Sean Reinert and ended with the death of original bassist Sean Malone. "While Time Disappears" is dedicated to Reinert, while Malone is of course naturally honoured in a way, because I can hardly imagine any bass player being influenced stronger by his unique style than Our Oceans' Robin Zielhorst, who played Malone's original lines as his Cynic successor for years.
Yet while there's no denying that Cynic will always be an integral part of their DNA Our Oceans has formed a very distinct identy beyond it. On the debut their style could shortly be described as emotional singer/songwriter compositions with a musical backbone of post rock with prog and ambient influences. While the playfulness was definitely still there in the execution, in the arrangements a lot of the jazz fusion and prog metal complexity sported by Exivious was cut back in favor of the greater focus on vocals and lyrics, and thus an overall easier accessibility.
In all of these regards "While Time Disappears" is a bit different. And I would attribute most of the changes to Tymon Kruidinier's grown confidence in his singing abilities and the charisma of his performance. This feels a lot like ok, I got this, this will still work if we dial shit up.
As a result this album is a lot heavier and edgier, while at the same time a lot of the instrumental Exivious craze is allowed to flow back into the music. Of course there's also time for the occasional all-around awesome guitar solo.
And while the vocals take a step back when they need to, their importance is still never overpowered. And honestly, how could they be? Tymon's performance is so emotionally upfront and in your face that you just cannot escape it - even if you want to. And I'm sure that his high mars volta-style wailings and the occasional desperately primal screams are not everybody's cup of tea.
No, what he does here is definitely less plain beautiful and at times a lot more demanding for the listener. This whole album feels like a man going through all the motions and the music following them consequently through all extremes.
For sure it's no coincidence that this album has been released by Long Branch Records, the same label which is home to The Hirsch Effekt, who often just use another toolbox of influences to connect honest feelings with complex musical ideas.
However the central takeway while listening to Our Oceans is always the great songwriting which very fluidly takes you through a great musical spectrum.
I especially like how by the end of A side this album makes you think that you know the band's range by now, but then in the second half they just keep proving that you knew nothing with each track, be it the stylistically outstanding hypnotic "Your Night, My Dawn", the almost too uncomfortably honest "You Take" or the extra smooth fusion finale of "With Hands Torn Open".
But ultimately each and every one of the nine songs is worth being singled out. This goes right in the feels, yet also tickles the brain. Just extra-ordinarily well crafted stuff.
