North Atlantic Drift

Wow, first a Stereophonics record and now a new album from Ocean Colour Scene: us scum sucking music journos must have done something special to deserve this sort of ammunition. At least that’s what a few of the folk surrounding OCS think, which might explain how come this album’s press release spends more time commenting on how hated the band are then discussing their latest music. Which is a shame because North Atlantic Drift isn’t half bad at all, even at moments touching on the fantastic. The brisk opening of ‘I Just Need Myself’ pinpoints just why the record is quite so appealing. They may (still) not be doing anything particularly new, but here at least Ocean Colour Scene sound like they really mean it, playing with a passion that so few of their Britpop contemporaries are able to muster. Even better, the following ‘Oh Collector’ is a great song. As is the title track, ‘For Every Corner’, ‘On My Way’, ‘Second Hand Car’ and indeed the majority of the tracks on offer. With sounds ranging from Spector’s Wall Of Sound (the excellent ‘Make The Deal’) to modish power chording, they still have their sights set firmly on the past but it’s hard not to swept along by it all and wonder why they couldn’t have been this good all along. Will North Atlantic Drift win over their many detractors? Unlikely, but this is such an engaging, spirited record, the problem is all theirs.