Oxy
Fita
(Lo-Slow)
One of the reasons why I have always
struggled writing music reviews or synopses of albums that I really like is
describing the why. Why do I like
it? What makes the music so worthy of
further investigation? Sometimes it’s
easy, because there are records that tap into just the right sections of my
grey matter that inspire words by transporting me to another place in my mind,
or tap into seriously deep-seated emotions.
Some bands are simply easy to compare to others. Most of the time, like regular people, I like
what I like, because the music provides me joy.
When it comes down to it that is the
main reason why we all like what we like.
This leads me down the road of trying to figure out why I’ve always had
the inclination to try to sell people on the music that I think is worth
hearing. What’s the old simile? “Writing about music is like dancing about
architecture.” It’s not easy. Maybe I do it, because I like to write, and
am unbelievably passionate about music.
Essentially every moment of my life is linked in my thoughts with a
soundtrack of some sort. It is the way I
remember dates, seasons, people from the past.
And when I say ‘I like to write,’ that’s really only true
conceptually. I am only occasionally
inspired to actually attempt the work, and I have essentially no audience to
write for (thanks to those who do stop by and read!). Hence, my reluctance. I occasionally awkwardly write about mostly
fairly obscure music to an audience of almost no one. What is the point? The point is that when I come across music
that I enjoy so much, that I cannot at least try to scream it out to the world,
and so here we are yet again.
Brazilian five-piece Oxy have released a debut album, Fita, that is providing me great joy. There is something very comfortable about
their sound. The music hits notes that
my brain seems to be seeking. Not to get
too sciencey, but Oxy’s sound molecules are causing my ear molecules to tingle
the feel good molecules in my brain. When
I first heard the single, “Pink Socks,” I felt like I was listening to one of
those formative songs that expanded my tastes back in my teen years. It’s not that it sounds like anyone in
particular or of a time, it’s that the song feels
like it’s been a part of my life forever.
If forced to give comparisons, I would say that they lie in a beautiful
dream pop world somewhere between the crisp pop-rock of Julie Plug/Marine Life
and the more shoegazey Mira.
Fita feels
like a more veteran album than a debut, because it is unified throughout. The quiet and pleasant opening notes that
begin the slow burning “Into,” are seamlessly repeated at the end of the
closing “80s.” “Into” is the perfect
song to begin an album with. It is
simple and mellow and step by step, patiently, it builds tension and suspense,
until it explodes to a wordless musical chorus that stretches to the far corners
of the stratosphere and then rebuilds again.
During the second explosion, we find what seems a pronounced Pink Floyd influence, as a guitar solo
takes command (not sure who plays what) in a similar tasteful style of David Gilmour. This wonderful guitar work also shows up
midway through on “Reality” and the previously mentioned “80s.”
Meanwhile, “Realdaze” and the first
single “Pink Socks,” are absolutely stunning pop songs – the kind that should
be dominating the hit charts all over the world, but don’t ever seem to. “Realdaze” has grit and emotional impact
along with its lyrical refrain “I choose you,” while the more atmospheric “Pink
Socks,” glides along with a bassline that makes one instinctively bounce along. Come to think of it, the fourth song, “Carriage,”
should be a huge single too, as Sara Cรขndido’s varied
vocals really stand out on this song.
Speaking of varied, Fita, has a nice mixture of styles and
tempos as it progresses, without breaking from the very strong vibe that
unifies the entire collection. The
second half runs a little long, but once you’re in the album’s zone, you really
don’t want it to end anyway, so that’s a minor issue. Like I said earlier, their sounds hit just
the right notes. “Trying” is a fairly straightforward
rock song, while the penultimate, “6th Sense” covers all kinds of
ground with its catchy guitar melody, fast chorus, and alternately dreamy and
chaotic bridges. I bet that one is a
highlight live.
It seems as though shoegaze is alive
and well in Brazil. I’m surprised by the
resurgence over the last ten years in places like Texas, but I’m learning that it
has caught on all over the world. As
long as we keep getting great music out of it, I’m all in. Please do yourself a favor and listen to this
wonderful collection.
Oxy "Pink Socks"
