EFFLORESCE

Oceansize's debut is how they landed in the space rock category. There is a little space rock here, but sharing equal parts of their sound is a heavy alternative rock and post-rock. Effloresce is a strong debut, featuring thick layers provided by three guitars, odd times, and powerful melodies belted out by one of today's top vocalists, Mike Vennart. This is certainly the band's most accessible work to date, despite it being their longest at over 75 minutes long. On later releases, the band would start to make everything more complex: the rhythm work, the atmospheres and the structures specifically. Not to say this is an easy listen, but this is probably the one that will garner the most fans. The band does have a tendency to make the beginnings of their album difficult to get into, though. After a spacey intro that really sets the mood and intrigues, the band breaks into "Catalyst," which I believe is a fan favorite. I must say that it is a rather tough song to digest at first, as the intro is chaotic and the hooks don't get you immediately; it also doesn't help that this is one of the most rhythmically challenging pieces on the album. It should however, keep your interest enough to keep listening. The first four tracks are good, but it really starts to cook at the spacey interlude "Rinsed." As that ends and we move into "You Wish," the band's affinity for melody, atmosphere and odd times really start to synergize. Both that and the following "Remember Where You Are" are fantastic pieces that meld their characteristics very well. After that, the band is ready to knock us out, and strangely enough, without a single odd time! The next piece, "Amputee" hits really hard from he get-go. It's sheer power in numbers with a driving rhythm and soaring melodies. After a song that powerful, it's time for another interlude. Then, the band dishes out three 8-9 minute mini-epics: "Women Who Love Men Who Love Drugs," "Saturday Morning Breakfast Show" and "Long Forgotten." The first two are very dynamic and powerful, while the finale is really a beautiful piece that serves as kind of an ease-you-back-down closer, though it does slowly and subtly build to a fine finish.

Effloresce is a great album, where the band slowly sucks you in, teases you a bit, and then levels you, hard. They're nice enough to ease you out of their grasp, though. As I said, it's a bit tough to get into at first, but by the end you should find yourself in love with this band and album. Their next two would find the band really hitting their stride, managing to play even more complex rhythmic patterns while maintaining melody and atmosphere. Nevertheless, I can almost as easily recommend having this one in your collection, even if only for the awesome second half.