Bearing in the sheer scope and ambition of their work, it's fair to say that Manchester's magnificent OCEANSIZE don't obviously translate to the 'single' format, yet with the supremely confident "Heaven Alive", they prove they can swoop down within the 'pop single' format, providing we allow them six minutes instead of the customary three.
Thus, by the mighty 'Size's standards, "Heaven Alive" is almost bouncy: buoyed up by bubbling basslines, wah-wahs, layers of ethereal guitars and - surprisingly - an absence of THE RIFF. Yet despite that it's caressed by Mike Vennart's oddly breathy vocals and is still disciplined, heatseeking and impressively immense.
B-side "The Dirty Sweet Smell Of Summer", meanwhile, is a more recognisably intense affair. It's propelled by a primordial tumble of drums, guitars circling like psychedelic vultures and effects a breathtaking kaleidoscopic lift-off. Then (boy oh boy!) THE RIFF finally makes its' presence felt at around the two minute mark. Needless to say, from hereon in, resistance is utterly futile and by the time it slowly fades (at a surprisingly lean five minutes or so), it's sounding pretty damn essential. Not bad for an instrumental.
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Of course, the bigger picture will slide more effectively into focus with the arrival of the band's second album ("Everyone Into Position") come September, but "Heaven Alive" is still a suitably otherworldly star burning strong and proud in the firmament and one that - once again - requires worship from afar.
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