Octopus Ride
Originally released by Rev/Vega Records (2013)
Distributed by Sound Effect Records (2021)
Buy it on vinyl:
https://octopusride.bandcamp.com/
https://www.soundeffect-records.gr/
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The sound of crickets, vibrating sex toys, the voices of Donald Sutherland and Sean Penn, and a bundle of exotic instruments, come together bewitchingly on the self-titled debut release from Swedish neo-psych band Octopus Ride. Since forming in 1999, Octopus Ride has passed through a number of reincarnations. In 2002, the band invented “Psychedelic Post-Punk”, developing a unique sound that has been likened to “Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd rendering Joy Division”. Six years later, members of VED were brought in to quite the opposite effect, producing quietly hypnotic “mantra rock” songs of up to 30 minutes in length from a stage level below the audience. This album, eleven years in the making, is anchored by a running thread of variations on an ambient theme. Interspersed between these variations are tracks from various stages of the band’s history, reworked and remixed into a curious whole, hinting at influences ranging from Brian Eno and Michael Nyman to shoegaze and krautrock. Octopus Ride was released by Rev/Vega Records (home to FLOWERS MUST DIE). Cover art by Danilo Stankovic.
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1.
Trying to Describe You (initially) 00:00
2.
We Love Him 00:48
3.
Harbouring These Thoughts 02:52
4.
Trying to Describe You (with a cornet) 06:30
5.
Med någon annan (hade jag varit en annan) 06:57
6.
Trying to Describe You (in so many words) 10:18
7.
Väva 13:03
8.
Trying to Describe You (softly) 16:24
9.
Trying to Describe You (vividly) 19:48
10.
A Thing of the Past 21:18
11.
The Queen for a Day of Boredom 29:29
12.
Octopus Ride, VED – Trying to Describe You (slowly) 33:32
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Octopus Ride:
Karl Alm – Guitar & keyboards. Occasional bass, drums, cither.
Christian Ekvall – Guitar & vocals. Bass on “Harbouring These Thoughts”.
Additional musicians:
Robert Carlsson – Bass on “We Love Him” and “The Queen for a Day of Boredom”
Björn Eriksson – Viola on “Med någon annan ” & “Trying to Describe You (softly)”
Cecilia Flink – Vocals on “Väva”
Henrik Kyhlberg – Drums on “We Love Him” & “The Queen for a Day of Boredom”
Mattias Nihlén – Bouzouki on “Trying to Describe You (slowly)”
Adam Vilgot Persson – Audio generator on “Trying to Describe You (initially)” & “… (slowly)”. Stylophone on “Väva” & “Trying … (slowly).
Unni Zimmerdahl – Cornet on “Trying to Describe You (with a cornet)” & ” … (in so many words)”
Produced by Octopus Ride. Recorded and mixed by Octopus Ride at Teknikcirkus, Malmö, 2003–2013, except “We Love Him” & “The Queen for a Day of Boredom”, both recorded and mixed in Helsingborg, 2002, by Magnus Hansson.
Mastering by Viktor Ottosson.
Cover art by Danilo Stankovic.
Sleeve design and layout by Martin Daun.
“Trying to Describe You” was inspired by Richard Brautigan’s short story.
“Väva” is dedicated to Daniel Nilsson.