Ocean Beach – Long Road Home (Freezing Works)
Born and bred in the deep South, Gary Dalhousie is the “cheese monger who learned to play guitar”, now, his band, Ocean Beach has finally released their debut album.
I say finally because they were on a promo trajectory to have it in stores by the end of 2024 after putting out a new single at the beginning of each month from July through November.
With an additional single released this past March, finally the record can be enjoyed as a whole rather than as 6 individual pieces.
The album (I have a vinyl copy) has 9 tracks, so there is something new here for the fans who gobbled up the single, although they are all instrumentals.
In this current world of singles and EPs, it is somewhat satisfying to take in a collection of original music that has been created to be enjoyed in one sitting…getting up once to flip the record over.
With side one subtitled “Medication” and side two, “Meditation” its clear that Ocean Beach (named after the Ocean Beach Freezing Works in Bluff) have taken great thought and care (any probably expense) to put this package together.
Musically, this is a rock & roll band and the recent addition of lead guitarist Chris Jones and keyboard player Bryan Spittle really makes a point of it.
Side One, in particular, rocks hard beginning with the instrumental Savage Buckets, driven by pummeling drums and a searing electric guitar.
We finally hear Gary’s vocal a couple of minutes into track two, On My Way, a post-punk sneer that makes sense when singing lyrics like: “everything is made of dust/I’m not that fussed”.
Tower Of Babel darkens the sonic landscape as Spittle’s keys set the tone for a night out drinking “jugs of Lion Brown”
The weekend binge continues with the rawk-riffage of Boys Club, with Gaz and the boys proving they have something to say, commenting on those who “keep pinchin’ assess, oblivious to the cringe”.
Side two is indeed more meditative, beginning with the dreamy Omnism (look it up) and the hazy love song that is Come Around.
The four tracks flow together nicely, wrapping with another instrumental, Long Road Home.
I should note that the vinyl comes with a very nice insert, with lyrics, credits (producer is Dale Cotton) and illustrations to go with four of the songs.
Kudos to Gary, Dale, Coley and all involved. Its clear that these folks take their rock & roll seriously, and so should you.
Marty Duda
Ocean Beach’s debut album The Long Road Home will be released on May 17th on Freezing Works Records.
It will be distributed on vinyl by Southbound Records, and digitally by Bigpop.
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