Search - Ocean :: Precambrian

The Earliest Time Concept: Performed By The Ocean

Bill Lumbergh | Initech | 04/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Remember when "FluXion" and "Aeolian" were first meant to be released as a double album, yet it ended up that they were released as two separate albums, yet people didn't mind? Well, two years after "Aeolian", we have "Precambrian", a concept double album based around the earliest known times from thousands of millions of years ago, yet described in abstract form to make things less obvious.



The first disc, known as "Hadean/Archean" can easily be called an EP, as it clocks in at 22 minutes. These songs are in an aggressive style for the band, with its share of polyrhythmic structures and everything usually has the pace picked up. It gets you ready for the second disc, which they call "Proterozoic". This is definitely the superior disc, not just because of length, but because everything is executed so flawlessly by a large soundscape of crushing guitars, violins, piano, drums, and other various forms of percussion, including the xylophone and the chimes. Each song is written is a beautiful and structured matter, yet it retains that aggression that "Hadean/Archean" had you pumped up with.



If you want to listen to this album in the best way, play it from beginning to end. This isn't an album meant for shuffle, or an album with any singles on it, it's a breathtaking concept album with a very dynamic performance."

Living up to a name

Jason | Seattle, WA USA | 12/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With a name like "The Ocean" and a catalog to date that playfully crosses the borders between heaven and hell, there was a certain amount of anticipation for this release - especially considering the brutality of their last album which had many fans concerned for the future of a progressive giant.



Fear not. In short, The Ocean prove here that their inspiration is as vast and unrelenting as the origin of their name."