A few short weeks back, British indie pop trio 22 Oceans released their new EP, Home, a release which revels in the potent prowess and captivation of their richly engaging sound. Its unveiling also saw the band link up in partnership with UK charity Stonepillow, with all proceeds from its digital and CD release going to support the charity’s work in empowering homeless and vulnerable people across Chichester and Arun towards achieving sustainable independence and wellbeing.
The creation as a solo project of Mike Guy, 22 Oceans subsequently grew into a trio with the addition of the vocal and songwriting talents of twin sisters Carys and Keeley Hughes. Since emerging in 2020, the band has unveiled a host of well-received tracks and releases, an adventure of sound leading now to the haunting beauty and presence of the Home EP.
Recorded and mastered by renowned producer Marc Joy (Primal Scream, Mike Peters, Oasis, Bernard Butler, Golden Fable, Louise Trehy), the 72rpm Records released EP opens with its title track, a song which pulsates upon the senses with instant radiance. It is a seduction quickly escalated by the vocal beauty of Carys and Keeley and again as the song continues to gently blossom in presence and electronic orchestration. With every passing second of its evocative impassioned reflection within just as warm skies, it shares a haunting and spellbinding journey back to the safest place, one’s instinctive home.
The following Drifting immediately reveals thicker sinews in its design, a physical drama bound in ethereal ambience and fuelled with synth pop catchiness. Yet again though, as vocals and keys seduced as richly as they fascinated, the song is like a glide through a gossamer veiled landscape but an encounter also revelling in the pop instincts of the band, at times strolling through ears with adventurous enterprise bound in alluring charm.
That fusion of its lively dynamics and infection sharing inclinations with delicate beauty and silky harmonies similarly breeds rich captivation within Rebroken, a song with its own sense of earnest rumination and thought evoking shadows.
The release is completed by two furthers versions of its title track. The first is the Marc Joy – LTC Remix, a take which focuses upon a slimmer aspect of the original’s electronic threads to create a mesmeric serenade of rumination and gentle melodic caresses while its successor, the West Coast Music Club Mix of Home brings the song’s Americana essences to the fore, its acoustic caresses and swarthy hues as enthralling as the ever mesmeric vocals.
Together the final pair provides a richly enjoyable end to one increasingly irresistible encounter and with its intent to help less fortunate souls there is little reason for you not to be seduced by the Home EP.
The Home EP is available via 72rpm Records both digitally and on CD exclusively @ https://22oceans.bandcamp.com/album/home-e-p
https://22oceans.com/ https://www.facebook.com/22Oceans/ https://twitter.com/22_oceans https://stonepillow.org.uk/
Pete RingMaster 01/04/2022
Copyright RingMaster Review
Categories: Music
The RingMaster Review 
Such captivating music!