A magical and mercurial post-rock instrumental record from Portland based duo Oll Ef, ‘Oceaneater’ is a ride to remember. The brother duo’s first full length project is immaculately conceived, boasting a clarity and excellence in arrangement. Bringing together decades of experience, they’ve synthesized their sound from an assortment of influences ranging from Smashing Pumpkins, Oceansize, Appleseed Cast, Russian Circles, Glassjaw, to Dredg. The resulting record feels like an amalgamation of post-rock, grunge, and alternative musical arrangements that flow seamlessly into one another amidst a larger pool and chasm.
It fills your void, that deep craving for heavy rock while still retaining that purity in the melody and entrancement that goes above and beyond the normal boundaries. The release, which also features a sensational play through of the entire record, is definitely a landmark in post-rock instrumental work. Certain tracks like ‘An All Pervading Delirium’ transition into heavy, almost dark moments that show off a more heavy metal angle to the record.
Oceaneater is a record that’s cyclical and experiential to another level. The powerful guitar driven piece is an instant earworm for any rock enthusiast. It’s ability to move between moods, to shift seamlessly between the heavy and the mellow, the powerful and the dexterous, the intricate and the mashed, all make for a holistic and riveting rock extravaganza.