Ocean Alley are gearing up for the release of their new album Low Altitude Living and after giving it a listen I can assure Ocean Alley’s diehard and loyal fanbase they won’t be disappointed. Low Altitude Living is not a progression for the band nor is it a regression but more of a sideways slide. The album has that unmistakable Ocean sound throughout but there is something different this time. Something stronger maybe, more complexity? something may be as simple to explain as time or experience.

The band have again chosen to release their fourth album independently giving them full control over the direction the music is allowed to take and there is a real maturity in this album. The band’s growth is evident, especially in Parking Fines, Changes & West Coast which previously I think would have been sweetened up a notch. This is not to say these songs aren’t good, quite the opposite they’re amazingly good but it feels more like a marker of authenticity from the band.

Home & Double Vision are both twinkly and bouncy, they serve as great openers but in no way predetermine what’s to come on Low Altitude Living. Previously released single Touch Back Down is the first of the rockin’ tracks on the album but with the dreamy synths it maintains that unmistakable OA vibe. Perfume has its own feel, there is something familiar but not to the here and now with the song almost transporting you back to an era of music long before the band’s time. Drinks and Cigars soars with a vocal style that matches the progression of the song and the story it is telling perfectly. Simple Pleasures has a standout saxophone solo. Parking Fines is a fast-paced, punchy track that this reviewer thinks showcases everything that Ocean Alley is at their very finest. Changes is dark and moody and given its positioning on the album keeps the listener guessing on what’s going to come next. Deepest Darkness is the album’s ballad and will be big on the charts if it’s released as a single in the future, having that same feel that has been so commercially popular for the band in the past. West Coast is a hard one to describe with a grove that transcends to powerful in seconds. Snake Eyes is definitely one that will be a favourite for a lot of people, it has been written with great depth, is relatable to most and the chorus just takes the song to an elevated level. Lapwing, the final track returns you back to classic Ocean Alley, it has that surf rock groove, strong vocals and a solid guitar backbone that has become a signature to most of the band’s music.

Standout Tracks: Snake Eyes & Parking Fines

Low Altitude Living is being released independently on October 14th.

Stream ‘Home’ here.
Pre-order Low Altitude Living here.

Full Track list:

1. Home
2. Double Vision
3. Touch Back Down
4. Perfume
5. Drinks And Cigars
6. Simple Pleasures
7. Parking Fines
8. Changes
9. Deepest Darkness
10. West Coast
11. Snake Eyes
12. Lapwing

Ocean Alley - Low Altitude Living