More than a decade ago I raved about a single from Mittenfields. That cut, and the band's 2015 album were really good. So naturally when I heard that Dave Mann was in a new band, I was interested.
Baltimore's anocean crank out a neat blend of proto-shoegaze and post-punk. Their new EP, Climbing Walls, opens with the Anna Conner-sung, nearly-sweet "Happier Without" before it segues into the superb "Blush", a real stormer. This one neatly blends shoegaze effects with the sort of post-rock we heard on DMV-area releases (and others) in the late Nineties. It's a smart track, but it also packs a sonic wallop. Elsewhere, the title cut serves up a subtle Swervedriver-ish hook behind Anna's lovely-yet-strong vocals to wonderful effect. Without seeming to try too hard, anocean crank out material that is pleasantly surprising in its appeal.
Climbing Walls was recorded, mixed, and co-produced by J. Robbins (Channels, Office of Future Plans, Jawbox, etc.). His deft touch brings ou the light and dark shades here, and that gives the music of anocean on this EP some variety.
Climbing Walls by anocean is out now. Details below.
[Photo: anocean Bandcamp]