Though formed in 1999, Octopus Ride did not release their debut album until 2013. Now, finally, the follow-up has arrived. Two albums in twenty-two years may indicate that these Swedes don’t like to rush things. On the other hand, their music is bristling with restless energy and unpredictability. Often, a nervous, minimal riff and a speeding drum will serve as a foundation, which allows mysterious sounds to enter and exit the audio landscape much like the images and scenes of a dream. Occasionally, an actual “song” will appear, in one case even a slow waltz, but arranged in such an unsettling, disorientating fashion that it will put listeners out at sea, clutching at the railings. Not quite shoegaze, nor post-punk, nor krautrock, Octopus Ride are once again transporting you into a world of sounds that is theirs and theirs alone.
credits
released October 22, 2021
Karl Alm – Guitar and keyboards
Christian Ekvall – Guitar, vocals and keyboards
Henrik Kyhlberg – Drums
Johannes Måbrink – Bass
Unni Zimmerdahl – Cornet and keyboards
Björn Eriksson – Viola on "One Summer's Break"
Robert Karlsson – Bass on "I Saw You (We All Did)"
Jenny Wilson – Backing vocals on "A Place ..." and "I Wait"
Children's choir on "If You're Happy":
Leo Bergström, Sture Ekvall, Siri Nin Sjöstrand, Vida Pinheiro Ågren
"Things'll Never Be the Same" was written by Peter Kember and Jason Pierce. All other tracks by Octopus Ride.
I Saw You (We All Did): recorded in Helsingborg, 2002, engineered and mixed by Magnus Hansson. All other tracks: recorded at Press Rec Studios and in Ekvall's home, Malmö, 2016-2020, engineered and mixed by Alm.
Produced by Alm/Ekvall.
Mastered by Joakim Lindberg.
Cover art by Danilo Stankovic.
Sleeve design by Martin Daun.
Formed as Eskimo Chain in 1999. Invented Psychedelic Post-Punk in 2002. Released their debut album in 2013 and the belated follow-up in the autumn of 2021.
Thanks for the intro HELICON via your tour.
Hold on to your head folks. This band are right in the heavy Space Rock groove from start to finish. What an astounding album!
Neo Space Psyche deeply embedded in the groove laid down by Hawkwind.
Space Rock at it's finest. Well done folks. jazzberto
Oh how I long for this album in vinyl format! Such smoothness. Such warmth. Such execution. This music begs to be taken along and woven into memories. Everyone I’ve shared this album with has loved it. The music speaks far and wide. Shouting out to a fellow follower, Brian Lehmann, for his excellent taste in music. If not for him, I likely would have never stumbled upon this absolute gem! Plinchmo Larduktin
The latest from synth-driven post-punk duo The KVB is as moody as ever, but polishes their pop proclivities to a fine sheen. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 30, 2021