In the Way of the Oceans… Seas the day

Review: Ground Pilots – In the Way of the Oceans

Published on February 3rd, 2014 | Jonny Abrams

There has been no little anticipation for Ground Pilots’ debut album In the Way of the Oceans at Rocksucker HQ, its four lead-up releases “Castaway”, “The Entire World”, “A Billion Things” and “Talk to Me” all meriting inclusion in a Best of This Week’s Singles round-up.

“Talk to Me” in particular is quite, quite brilliant, a Liverpudlian troubadour plonked into wonderland by the kind of imaginative, technicolourful production that is simply beyond the numerous more earthbound singer/songwriters of our age.

Its rattling, shuffling rhythm section and staccato swipes of dissonant strings make for a really striking opener, a serene psychedelia which provided quite the curve ball in terms of our expectations for the LP, released as it was following the La’s/Beta Band hybrid of a “A Billion Things” and the sublime rambler’s lilt of “Castaway” (there is also a track here titled “The Rambler”, splendourous it is too).

Fourth single “The Entire World” is most indicative of the album’s overall flavour, a big ballad exploding with soulful harmonies and subtly ecstatic progressions, while the classy late-night drive of “In Your Dreams” could easily be a single too.

Elsewhere, “America” sounds like an agreeably reined-in version of something from Villagers’ {Awayland} album of last year, dark and brooding with a softly seething sort of menace to it, and In the Way of the Oceans ends strongly with the suitably tempestuous “Trouble”, celestial bedtime ballad “Goodbye” and the stirring, semi-instrumental title track.

We like the experimental stuff best, but there’s much to commend it all for. A splendid debut, as anticipated.

BUY: In the Way of the Oceans on iTunes or on Amazon.

Rocksucker says: Four Quails out of Five!

a quail a quail a quail a quail

Artists: ground pilots

About the Author

Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.