Oceansize

Oceansize
Left to right: Gambler, Steven Hodson, Mike Vennart, Steve Durose, Mark Heron.
Background information
Origin	Manchester
Genre(s)	Art rock
Years active	1998–present
Label(s)	Beggars Banquet Records
Website	oceansize.co.uk
Members
Mike Vennart Steve Durose Gambler Mark Heron Steven Hodson

Oceansize are a five-piece rock group based in Manchester, England. Formed in 1998, Oceansize have gone on to release three full length albums — Effloresce (2003), Everyone Into Position (2005) and Frames (2007) — in addition to a number of minor EPs and singles. The band is labelled variously as progressive rock (a classification the band rejects), indie and metal, among other genres.^{[citation needed]}

History

Having toured with The Cooper Temple Clause, Cave In, People in Planes, Aereogramme, Mclusky, Biffy Clyro (on whose most recent 2007 tour Mike Vennart acted as a second live guitarist on selected songs), Porcupine Tree and Serafin, Oceansize stand out from the mainstream rock scene of Manchester, and a recent increase in popularity has seen them distributed internationally, with some claiming them to be one of the most prevalent modern progressive rock bands of late. Influences range from The Beach Boys and Black Sabbath to Can, Cardiacs, Jane's Addiction, The Verve, Swervedriver, Tool and Tortoise. Some have compared their sound to Pink Floyd, another strong influence, as well as Mogwai and My Bloody Valentine.

On December 4th 2005, the band issued a press release, stating that bassist Jon Ellis was leaving the band, but would still contribute musically. On 28th January 2006, the band's frontman Mike Vennart issued a short post on an Oceansize messageboard announcing Ellis' replacement, Steve Hodson, who was already a part of the Oceansize side-project Kong. He has been dubbed “New Steve”^{[citation needed]}, referring to his first UK tour with the band (in support of the New Pin single) and the presence of Steve Durose.

Their song Meredith from the album Everyone Into Position was featured on the popular television drama The O.C., and Music For A Nurse from the same album became the soundtrack to an Orange advertising campaign entitled Fish during summer 2006. Music For A Nurse was also featured in the motion picture The Invisible (2007)

They recently embarked on a tour supporting Fightstar. They have only toured the U.S. once, in support of their 2003 CD Effloresce.

The band has not divulged the specifics of their latest record deal, but it is suspected to be one that will better support the band in terms of promotion and financial backing for international (e.g. U.S.) touring. Mike Vennart implied in a recent interview with a myspace user named "ThinkTank" that this record deal was contingent on the band writing two tracks "on order" for the company. These mp3s were released on the band's Myspace page around Christmas 2006 as a band-described gift to the fans. The two songs were "Red Rag to a Bear" and "Siberian Bullshit". In the posting of these mp3s, Vennart described these tracks as "warts an' all," and suggested that they would not show up on the new album.

Mixed by Chris Sheldon, their third album — entitled Frames — was released on 1st October 2007 by the Superball Music label. Prior to the release, a “brutally edited” version of the song "Unfamiliar" was placed on their MySpace page, along with a full version of "Trail of Fire".

Side Projects and Collaborations

The band's side project Kong, consisting of Steven Hodson and Mark Heron, recorded their debut album “Snake Magnet” in the summer of 2007 at the Works Studio in Bredbury (where Everyone Into Position was recorded). No details of its release have been announced.

Oceansize also share a camaraderie with fellow Mancunian band Amplifier, with the bands referring to each other as “brothers-in-amps”^[1]. Mike Vennart and Steve Durose supplied backing vocals on two of the tracks on Amplifier's self-titled debut album, while Amplifier's front-man Sel Balamir is credited in Oceansize's song “Sizeofanocean”.

During the recording of Everyone Into Position in 2005 at The Works Recording Studio, Vennart ran into Snoop Dogg, and recorded guitar parts for the rapper's demos.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

Albums

• Effloresce (2003)
• Everyone into Position (2005)
• Frames (2007)

Singles and EPs

• "Amputee" EP (1999) (CD Only)
• "Saturday Morning Breakfast Show" (1999) (7" Vinyl Only)
• "A Very Still Movement" EP (2001) (CD Only)
• "Relapse" EP (2002) (CD/10" Vinyl)
• "One Day All This Could Be Yours" (2003) (CD/10" Vinyl)
• "Catalyst" (2003) (Download Single)
• "Remember Where You Are" (2003) (CD/7" Vinyl)
• "Catalyst" (2003) (CD/7" Vinyl)
• "Music for Nurses" EP (2004) (CD/10" Vinyl)
• "Heaven Alive" (2005) (CD/7" Vinyl)
• "New Pin" (2006) (CD/7" Vinyl)

Members

• Mike Vennart -- guitar, lead vocals
• Steve Durose -- guitar, backing vocals
• Stanley Gambler Posselthwaite -- guitar, keyboards
• Steven Hodson -- bass, keyboards
• Mark Heron -- drums

Previous Members

• Jon Ellis -- bass, keyboards

Interviews

Radio

• Radio Interview. Dec 2006 - 3SYN 90.7FM Melbourne, Australia

External links

• Official Site
• Unofficial Message Board
• Oceansize's Myspace page
• Kong's Myspace page
• 5/5 review of 'Frames' on Rocklouder music website

Notes

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