The Ocean Party are back with a remarkable new record. 2014’s Soft Focus was steeped in nostalgia and landscape; Light Weight finds the band very much in the present, and looking into the future.
On this album, The Ocean Party fully realise their strengths. It’s another well produced and cohesive record, rich in melody and poppy dreamscapes. The point of difference between Soft Focus and Light Weight, however, is the scope of the lyrical content and musicianship on display. If Soft Focus was a coming of age record, Light Weight is the sound of a band in full command of their faculties and seeking a broader means of expression.
The comparisons to Aussie favourites like The Go-Betweens and The Triffids are still valid, but some more global influences have entered The Ocean Party’s musical lexicon. There are moments that seem to reference ‘90s Manchester, or ‘80s pop, while retaining a thoroughly modern Australian sound. The lyrical focus has shifted too, from thoughts of past experiences to more universal human experiences and hopes for the future.
One thing is sure – if The Ocean Party continue making records as strong and well-realised as the last two, the future is bright.
BY JULIAN DOUGLAS
