Review: Our Oceans – Right Here, Right Now

For a site that specialises in progressive music, we don’t cover all that much prog rock. At the end of the day, there’s only so much you can say about the endless sea of bands pilfering from Pink Floyd, generating Genesis knock-offs, and getting too close to the edge with their Yes worship. Other options are available, of course, and what energises us most is finding exciting acts who have energy and creativity to add to the time-honoured genre tropes. From the frenetic melodicism of Frost* to the poppy symphonics of Meer to the zany shenanigans of Moron Police, the modern prog scene fortunately has more to offer than hurried Rush worship, 21st century schizoid King Crimson rip-offs, and Camel plagiarism that’ll give you the hump. 

One such more unique act is Our Oceans. Growing out of the instrumental prog fusion group Exivious, the Dutch trio take the intricate fretless bass work, wonky syncopation, and technical instrumentation of their former project, but weaponise it in order to perform more traditional vocal-led rock, their virtuosity now serving the needs of vocalist Tymon Kruidenier. Having proven their salt with their self-titled debut in 2015, and having released their wonderful sophomore outing While Time Disappears in 2020, the requisite five years have passed in order for them to bestow upon us another offering: Right Here, Right Now. How does it fare?

As ever, Our Oceans sound incredibly fresh, the aural equivalent of freshly squeezed orange juice. Clean tones, natural harmonics, and that shiver-inducing bass work set the scene. But dominating the soundscape is Kruidenier’s high-toned vocals which are a match for Geddy Lee in timbre, but far more acrobatic in his range and ability to shift. He can turn a fry scream into a beautiful falsetto vocal run and he’ll make sure you know it. The first three tracks (which were also the three singles released ahead of release) are textbook Our Oceans, from the accessible radio rock facade of “Golden Rain” to the mournful bass slides and tender crooning that propel “Lost in Blue” toward its explosive climax. 

The album’s main highlights are the tracks that go a little further than Our Oceans’ established sound. Fuelled by angular rock riffs, “Untamed” owes a legacy to hard rock, and it’s a surprising omission from the early singles shortlist given its standout hookiness. On the other side of the spectrum is the balladic restraint of “If Only…” which features a gorgeous guest performance from Evvie who proves a perfect foil for Kruidenier. Meanwhile, finale “Abloom” is the most grandiose track on the album, closing the record with strong vocals, some guitar lead wizardry, and an enormous and moving choral chant of ‘I live in light, I die in light.’ 

But elsewhere, some tracks struggle to stand out. Some wriggly synth work, tasty bass, and solid riffing permeate here and there, and the jazzy clean guitar work and bass groove of “Drifting in the Drops” is worth noting, but otherwise Our Oceans are self-cannibalising a little. Most obviously, “Leave Me Be”, while an enjoyable track, owes it’s quasi-electronica bass rhythm is singing from the same hymn sheet as “Your Night, My Dawn” from While Time Disappears. Right Here, Right Now is a softer album all around, and so many of its softer sojourns struggle to stand apart from the album at large, and from the bulk of the band’s discography. Guest singers, hard rock riffs, and choral finishes are the highlights propping up an album that is, all too often, doing business as usual.

Right Here, Right Now provides another collection of technically composed, singalong bangers, cementing Our Oceans status as one of the more unique groups in the modern progressive scene. And while this third release plays it a little safe with a softer tone and some recapitulation of old formulae, I’d rather listen to a band crib from their own distinctive songbook than endure another day of Dream Theater plagiarism. 

Recommended tracks: Untamed, If Only…, Abloom
You may also like: Eden Circus, Umpfel, Bend the Future
Final verdict: 7/10

Right Here, Right Now is available now for physical purchase. Its release on streaming will be staggered (i.e. not available right here, right now) as explained by the band here.  

Related links: Bandcamp | Official Website | Facebook | Instagram

Label: Long Branch Records

Our Oceans is:
– Tymon Kruidenier (vocals, guitar)
– Robin Zielhorst (bass)
– Yuma van Eekelen (drums)

With guests:
– Evvie (vocals on track 8)