By Karen Aney (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: March 7, 2012
Hey Ocean! is a band from Vancouver, made up of Ashleigh Ball (vocals/flute/xylophone), Dave Vertesi (vocals/bass), and David Beckingham (vocals/guitar). You’ve probably heard of them since they’re frequently on the Peak and CBC, and were voted the best local unsigned band of 2011 in the reader’s choice competition of The Georgia Straight. If you’re not a big radio listener, you may still know them – their music has been used in a T-Booth commercial and in an episode of One Tree Hill.
Just in case you haven’t heard them yet, here’s a quick rundown: this group of musicians use their ability to actually play their instruments to produce unobtrusive songs that bridge the gap between folk music, indie rock and the oft-dreaded “p” word (pop). The resulting sound is uniquely west coast: laid back enough for yoga on the beach, yet perky enough to keep you dancing in gridlock traffic.
One of the perkier tracks on their latest album is aptly titled “Make A New Dance Up.” It starts with a simple drumline—not too far a departure from what any eighth grader learned the first time sitting at a drum kit—and catchy repetitive guitar chords. When the lyrics come in, this sound retreats to a simple bass line – thus allowing Ball’s voice and the words themselves to shine. The rhythm, care of percussion and guitar, gradually builds up again until the chorus. This is a high point of the track, and includes everything from bright and sunny brass to initially incomprehensible lyrics. Yes, it’s all been done before, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: the track is catchy and memorable.
Though the tactics in tracks like “Make a New Dance Up” are recognizable, other parts of the album stand out as unique. One such track is “Bicycle,” and is a great example of why it’s worth it to actually buy the album. Gems like this song often get forgotten because they just don’t get as much radio play as the singles with higher promotion. The track consists of some acoustic guitar, quiet drumming, and even what sounds like casual snapping. Ball’s vocals are layered on top, and everything melds together to create a quintessential early ‘60s jazz piece. However, the lyrics outline an end-of-relationship story shocking in content yet bordering on hilarity given the style of song it’s presented in. The condensed version: girl bikes to boy’s house, boy’s things are all over the lawn, note addressed to girl says he’s “leaving this place – not by choice, it’s my fate.” The juxtaposition of song style with the content of the lyrics makes this track amusing and unforgettable, while the melodies are lovely and keep it consistent with the rest of the album.
A lone critique of the album is that it may be slightly over-produced for some ears. A great example of this is the first track, “If I Were a Ship.” The album version starts with an interlude of good old acoustic piano layered with some honest-to-goodness flute playing. This in itself is refreshing on an album of the genre, and demonstrates musical brevity that seems to escape many artists today. The song then launches into the gentle melody that continues throughout the track, including the line “part all these provinces” – the inclusion of which is sure to make every Canadian sick of hearing about states squeal with joy. Everything moves along nicely, and it’s a perfectly fine song. However, a quick perusal of the group’s YouTube channel, (heyocean), shows a video from “The Hallway Sessions” of Ball singing the song acoustically and unedited. The video demonstrates her natural vocal talent and ability to milk beauty out of every note and run. However, the editing process on the album seems to have cut much of this out. While it perhaps makes for a more radio-friendly sound, fans of the group may be disappointed that the group’s raw and natural talent is diminished in the editing process.
There’s plenty to love about this album. The harmonies from male members Dave and David are interesting and refreshing; the songs are creatively unique yet coherent; but best of all the group is part of a movement in Vancouver of amazing musicians rising to both national and international fame.
