"I Prefer Their Old Stuff"

Today I learnt (a few days late but I was away at the weekend) that one of my favourite bands has split up.

Manchester rockers Oceansize have kept me entranced since I heard “Catalyst” on MTV2 around 2003, their confounding time signatures and meandering melodies giving them the same sort of listening longevity for me to bands like Tool, who of course produced my favourite album of all time.

In a very brief statement on their website they said;

“We regret to inform you that Oceansize have split up. An explanation for this occurrence is neither forthcoming or indeed necessary. All that remains is to say THANK YOU for being there for us. It’s been a very eventful and life-affirming 12 years. We’ll miss you.”

It’s always sad when a band that have recorded music that is important to you split up, but to be pragmatic, it’s virtually impossible for most bands to keep producing the same quality output for ever. The “Home & Minor” EP did not do much for me and although their last (and that word now has an extra meaning!) album “Self Preserved While The bodies Float Up”  had a fair few great tracks I do not feel it stands up that well against their previous output, so perhaps now is a good time to call it a day. There is nothing worse than watching a once favourite band slowly descend into mediocrity, or worse, shit!

They leave behind four great studio albums, a couple of great EPs (“Music For Nurses” for example) and the marvellous live box set “Feed to Feed” (4 CDs, 3 DVDs) chronicling their 10th anniversary three night residency at Manchester’s Roundhouse where they played each of their first three albums in their entirety.

Sad to see them go, but I will be interested to see what the various members do next. According to Wikipedia;

“Later in the day, the band released information on further plans for the majority of its members. Mike Vennart would be working on a project called Hhaitch as well as working with Gambler on a new project called British Theatre. Gambler, in turn, would also be continuing his solo career under his real name of Richard Ingram. Mark Heron and Steve Hodson would continue with Kong, while each also worked on two other projects separately – Hodson on Chandelier Swing and Mild Eyes, Heron on Krem and improv band Shamefaced. The only former Oceansize member not yet to announce his future plans is Steve Durose.”

Listen to their entire back catalogue on Spotify or just check out a couple of their videos below (you may have to go to youtube to watch them, damn record labels!)