The plan had been to see Oceansize play at the newly relaunched Fibbers in York. It's a fifteen-minute walk from my house for starters, and they've made such a massive deal about their quarter of a million pound refurbishment, which includes a new and improved stage at the opposite end of the room from where it used to be, new bars (plural: there was originally only one), a new sound system and a neon raft. I've no idea what a neon raft might be, but despite having been told it might be something to do with lighting (how dull), I was curious to see for myself. Alas, it wasn't to be. The doors didn't open at 7:30 as advertised, and at almost a quarter to nine, those who had waited patiently outside were informed - by the band, no less - that the gig was cancelled. It transpired that the new PA wasn't up to much, and that it had blown before the band had even managed a proper soundcheck.
My suggestion that we instigate a riot didn't get taken up, and the disappointed queue dispersed in the directions of various pubs. The guy in front of me was heading back to Stoke. It's an indication of just how hardcore and ardent a fan-base Oceansize have accumulated during the course of their twelve year career. Deservedly so: they're a band with a remarkable depth of quality to their catalogue, and as a live act, they're seriously impressive. If they weren't, I wouldn't have bothered to rack up five previous Oceansize gigs myself. So my mate and I decide to head to the Cockpit two nights later to make up for the disappointment. It was a sound move.
The place is rammed, and from the outset, it's clear that this is going to be one loud gig. Three guitars drenching the stage in feedback heralds the start of the set, and the blast us with a megalithic, balls-out rendition of 'Part Cardiac,' the heavy as hell opener to the new album, 'Self Preserved as the Bodies Float Up.' Holy crap! It's worth the entry fee on its own. From thereon in, there's no let-up, either.
It's not surprising that the majority of the set draws on the latest album, and I'm really not complaining, either, because the album's a stormer. Besides, it's the first time many of those present, myself included, have had the opportunity to hear these songs played live. It's live where Oceansize really do stand out: don't get me wrong, in the studio, they're wizards, laying down layers of complexity and sudden left-turns, but live, they manage to elevate their songs to a whole other plane. They also know how to rock.
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The previous album, 'Frames,' is represented by 'Trail of Fire' and by a cracking rendition of 'Unfamiliar' which really does kick, while still maintaining its majestic hook. From further back, 'New Pin' and 'Music for a Nurse' get an airing, but it's the closer, 'The Last Wrongs' that really stands out. On 'Everyone Into Position,' it's good, but largely buried under a clean, multitracked studio production that lacks real punch. Tonight, it's played at head-shredding volume and with a real passion - to such an extent that I find myself compelled to consider the song in a whole new light: the quiet / loud dynamics are positively explosive. From further back still, there's 'Paper Champion' from the 'Music for Nurses EP.' It succeeds in being dreamy, brooding and immeasurably dense, and is nothing short of awesome.
The encore has to be dropped due to the club-night curfew, and there's nothing from 'Efflouresce,' disappointingly. This might have been different had we been treated to an encore, and besides, it's clear that the set-list has been devised so as to be cohesive and to best represent where the band are at now - and it's a good place. So, despite this and the York debacle, it's hard to be particularly disappointed by a band on such brilliant form.
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