Year: 2011
Genre: Rock / alternative
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/airshiptheband
Format: mp3
Bitrate: V0 [~258]
Scene release: Airship-Stuck_In_This_Ocean-(Advance)-2011-404
File size: 97 MB
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20120104130124im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RQrPSHlTntY/TvcgdvT25rI/AAAAAAAABcQ/Y4BpDmNfVMY/s320/00%2BStuck%2Bin%2Bthis%2Bocean.jpg)
01. Algebra 4:27
02. Invertebrate 4:45
03. Kids 3:00
04. Gold watches 4:20
05. Spirit party 3:34
06. The trial of Mr. Riddle 8:20
07. Organ 4:44
08. Test 4:08
09. Vampires 4:52
10. This is hell 5:01
11. Stuck in this ocean 5:07
Review:
Maybe it’s the weather, but whatever the reason there’s no escaping the fact that most guitar groups hailing from Manchester and its immediate vicinity sound, well, rather miserable. From the funereal post-punk of Joy Division and the bittersweet kitchen sink drama of The Smiths to the glum widescreen anthems of Elbow, bands from the city and its surrounds seem to effortlessly evoke a sense of rain-swept urban ennui that is rarely emulated elsewhere. Things briefly lightened up during the ‘Madchester’ era as Shaun Ryder and friends bounced gleefully around in a state of substance-fuelled abandon, but the likes of Airship prove the downbeat tradition is still as strong as ever.
Recording of the Macclesfield/Stockport four-piece’s debut album was overseen by Doves producer Dan Austin, and boy does it show. Stuck in This Ocean is full of slow-building atmospherics, chiming guitar riffs and soaring, melancholy choruses.
Their debut begins with something that might be familiar: 'Algebra', the title track from their EP released last year. The song starts with a swelling of sound before guitars jangle away and Williams' voice joins the fray. Listen to this track and as you take into account all the parts that Airship decided to put into it, including the echoes on both the main and backing vocals, you come to the conclusion that they picked the right pieces to make this track sound uplifting and grand. More driving is recent single and BBC 6Music, XFM, and Radio1 favourite 'Kids', with a similar uplifting tone but with a faster tempo that will likely appeal to the kids that pogo at gigs. ‘Spirit Party’, another track from the previous EP, thunders along with a heavy bass line and memorable guitar hook. This album is chock full of fun tunes like 'Invertebrate', not a science lesson but a pop meets psych rock tune that bops along pleasingly, and 'Vampires', using rockier instrumentation and a Lykke Li-styled megaphone effect for a sultrier end product.
But what leaves an even more lasting impression are tracks like ‘The Trial Of Mr Riddle’, 'Organ' and ‘This Is Hell’, both of which make it seem like Airship is channelling the sound of the heavens. It’s easy to get swept up in the sonic grandeur, building and building in beauty and scale with the swirling guitars. In this debut album, the Glossop-bred quartet prove that even at their young age, it's possible to create complex songs that are accessible to all and music to the ears.
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