theoceanfloor

Artist Information

Biography

Formed in late 2003, theoceanfloor are a group of musicians from around the UK - but based primarily in Glasgow - with equally diverse influences and tastes. They combine to produce a truly inventive and powerful new sound.

October 2004 saw the release of the critically acclaimed E.P "The Whole Animal" and since then the band have been quietly gigging around central Scotland whilst honing and refining their live sound.

theoceanfloor were selected to play at the 2005 Musicworks showcase and after this the band featured on Jim Gellatlys ever popular beatscene on beat 106 (XFM Scotland) as well as numerous indie and online radio stations and podcasts.

The band are currently preparing to record the follow up to "The Whole Animal" and will be embarking on a national tour early next year.


See PRESS section to find out what the critics say . .

Instrumentation

Graham McCarey - vocals / guitar
Olly Stockman - guitar / sequencer
Steven Malcolmson - vocals / guitar
Stu Brown - bass guitar
Gav Hopper - drums

Discography

'The Whole Animal' - Debut E.P.

Official Website

http://www.theoceanfloor.co.uk

Audio

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Your New Favourite Band [+ Show ]
  

  "A journey to the depths reveals dark, sprawling guitar tunes and melodic vocals hinting at Sigur Ro..."A journey to the depths reveals dark, sprawling guitar tunes and melodic vocals hinting at Sigur Ros from this Glasgow five piece . . ."
  
  

• theoceanfloor Live Recordings
  

  ". . . Glorious stuff"

• The Whole Animal [+ Show ]
  

  IS THIS MUSIC (Issue 14) ". . . Beautifully crafted downbeat epics" [ 4 out of 5 ] NOISE (...IS THIS MUSIC (Issue 14)
  
  ". . . Beautifully crafted downbeat epics"
  [ 4 out of 5 ]
  
  
  NOISE (Jan 2005)
  
  ". . . Ethereally fluid stop motion of spill makes this 4 track e.p a must have. Gently superb"
  [ 4 out of 5 ]
  
  
  EDINBURGH ROCK (1st Edition)
  
  "A Mystically charming cd that was a real stand out. . . "
  8 out of 10
  
  
  PURE BRILLIANT PODCAST (#4)
  
  ". . . quite simply an awesome band . . ."
  

• EP review [+ Show ]
  

  "In certain cultures, where there are no supermarkets or chip shops, the people must strive for thei..."In certain cultures, where there are no supermarkets or chip shops, the people must strive for their sustenance. Generations pass on the secrets of survival and one of the most important secrets is that if you hunt a creature you owe it the respect of using the whole animal. theoceanfloor have an understanding of this train of thought (I trust) because, going by this EP, there is little-to-no wastage. Songs are brooding yet efficient, they sneak up on you but are sure to tip their cap before they leave. I really enjoy 'Spill' with its choral simplicity and aching guitar. 'The Whole Animal' is a sniper of a tune; it delivers a great deal and you can barely sense its presence.
  If this is a sign of things to come then I'm pretty excited and for those of you who still believe in music with a soul then you will not be disappointed by theoceanfloor"
  
  

• Sampler [+ Show ]
  

  ENTERTAINMENT MANCHESTER ". . . stunning soundscapes and intelligent lyrics. Fans of Sigur Ros an...ENTERTAINMENT MANCHESTER
  
  ". . . stunning soundscapes and intelligent lyrics. Fans of Sigur Ros and Pink Floyd should check them out."
  
  
  TASTY FANZINE
  
  ". . . highly listenable and contemplative."
  
  
  MUSIC SPOTLIGHT
  
  "Featuring three tracks from this Scottish band’s debut EP “The Whole Animal” plus a live demo, this serves as a perfect introduction to the many diverse sides of theoceanfloor. It opens with the epic “Spill” which gradually builds up into a spiral of guitars interspersed with Graham McCarey’s gentle vocals to good effect. “The Whole Animal” is an altogether quieter affair starting with a memorable vocal performance before heading in a sweeping instrumental direction until the vocals kick back in to end the song.
  
  Next up is “The Relevant Form” which features sparse, almost distant guitars, while the focus is almost certainly on the vocals. Finally, live demo “The Bite” ups the tempo with a pounding drum rhythm and incessant guitar riff which drives the song forward. The quiet to loud formula is used to good effect in each song, and while each showcases a different side to the band, it is clear that dark, brooding, epic songs are their strength. It’s a promising start, and with more of the quality of “Spill” and “The Bite”, they could do well."
  
  

• Debut EP [+ Show ]
  

  ". . . Glasgow’s troubadours of noir, theoceanfloor, offer the gentler side of darkness. With soul t...". . . Glasgow’s troubadours of noir, theoceanfloor, offer the gentler side of darkness. With soul to soul lyrics and melodic vocals, theoceanfloor's epic guitar tunes are more healing than bleeding.
  
  Their use of space and emotional colours within their songs gives them a haunting dreamy edge. With soaring orchestration you can’t help but escape within yourself.
  
  theocean floor take you to a quieter, less alien world, where no one can reach you. Enjoy the silence."
  
  

• Live @ The Arches Musicworks Showcase- 01/09/05 [+ Show ]
  

  "theoceanfloor continue to plot a trajectory refreshingly less whorish than their contemporaries. Vo..."theoceanfloor continue to plot a trajectory refreshingly less whorish than their contemporaries. Vocalist Graham McCarey's polite and almost apologetic address to the assembled media and A&R glitterati at this Musicworks showcase underlines the approach of this increasingly important 5-piece: the quiet witticism and wry nod between songs have no bearing on their honest, emotionally charged compositions, rather they simply add to the allure of this wonderful group of musicians.
  'The Whole Animal' EP released last year provided an interesting cross-section of theoceanfloor's sound; from the cinematic sweep of the Low-ish title track to the crashing refrain of Spill, Animal's only disappointment lies in its brevity.
  Today's early gig sees theoceanfloor begin timidly with Litmus Test and Inveraray. There is a decent crowd gathering for this time of day (2pm!) and by Gingerly you feel the parts clicking into place and the atmosphere beginning to warm - from the versatile rhythm pairing of Gavin Hopper and Stuart Brown to the three guitarists, the band begins to buzz too. McCarey and guitarist Steven Malcolmson are a formidable vocal pairing and their delicate harmonies are one of the most endearing features of the group, on Gingerly this is most evident, underlined by the strange fact that I can taste metal and feel like crying when I hear it (I swear!). Also key is the blur on the other side of the stage: guitarist Olly Stockman is the perfect foil for McCarey and Malcolmson; he compliments the vocals deftly, Floyd-esque patterns emerging from ear-bleeding blasts of Dinosaur Jr style chaos.
  It's no mean feat to make and eighty year old song sound like it's yours, especially when you get compared to Low and Pink Floyd (the Pink Floyd comparison has more to do with the fact that Graham McCarey sometimes sounds like Roger Waters if he had ever heard of modesty than anything else, but I digress), however as Tonight You Belong to Me swells to its pummelling close this is indeed the case . . ."
  
  

• Live at the 13th Note - 20.11.05 [+ Show ]
  

  Headlining at the 13th Note on this chilly November evening we have the "theoceanfloor". Any win...Headlining at the 13th Note on this chilly November evening we have the "theoceanfloor".
  
  Any wintry chilliness disappeared as soon as theoceanfloor took to the stage. A warm and atmospheric set was delivered to all assembled within the 13th Note.
  
  theoceanfloor are a five-piece who's passion for music is clearly evident as they mystically meander their way through their set for the evening. Leading this evocative expedition is Graham McCarey. His crisp, rich and at times haunting vocals lulling the collective in the basement into a collective escapism.
  
  At no time during their set did any member of theoceanfloor detract from their fellow band member, each individual given a chance to display their talent, from Gavin Hopper's delicately delivered drum strokes to Olly Stockman's energetic sequencer / guitar work, especially evident in their final song of the evening; "The Bite"
  
  In an age where semi-plagiarism is evident or where a rhyming dictionary has been utilised to write an entire album, theoceanfloor are a wonderful rare species of band. I'll be frank, the oceanfloor are a law unto themselves - whilst I found it hard to pull out any audible influences from their set, I would recommend that if you have a penchant for an evocative sound with a combination of velvety vocals and excellent atmospheric guitar-work then theoceanfloor is certainly where it's at. No oxygen-tank or wetsuit required.
  
  

• Live @ the Bastille Taverne 8/12/05 [+ Show ]
  

  "Finally on the stage, were theoceanfloor. If you heard my radio show, you’ll know how highly I rate..."Finally on the stage, were theoceanfloor. If you heard my radio show, you’ll know how highly I rate the band. I bought their EP The Whole Animal earlier in the year, and it blew me away. So, I looked forward to this all night. theoceanfloor are a five piece band, made up of Graham McCarey - singer and guitarist, Gav Hopper - happiest drummer alive, Stuart Brown – Bassist and facial expressionist, Steven Malcolmson – guitarist, vocalist and Napoleon Dynamite enthusiast and Olly Stockman – guitarist and synth genius. The band opened with a synth that sounded reminiscent of a mix between Radiohead and Pink Floyd, swirling and nasty, lurking with intent. That’s a phrase that could sum up the band quite adequately. However, this was just the beginning. Little Boxes, a song I’ve never heard before, seemed to flirt between pettiness and anger, starting as a mild rant and developing into an awe consuming rage, before sliding into a settled “I’m done now, but I’m not finished”. That left me grinning like a Cheshire cat. I was probably like that the rest of the gig. I think by the halfway point to the next song, the all consuming notion that theoceanfloor are my new favourite band of all time was pretty much established. In fact, so carried away I got, my Dictaphone merely recorded the immortal line “This is f**king great!” Articulate as ever… Spill, jokingly introduced as Jilted John, was rolled out to great recognition from the crowd, a great track from the EP released previously. The band, whom I’d heard play this acoustically previously, simply served to send the song into a different stratosphere. Taking its musical journey into depth and heights it’s never traveled while spinning in your CD player. The mark of a band that have already grown and improved, the mark of a band that looks like being my favourite for some time to come. Gingerly, a soft song dedicated to the death of John Lennon, performed on the 25th anniversary of his death, was perfect in its size and sentiment. No percussion, just synthy guitar and Graham’s soulful voice. It hit the spot with many audience members. Then came The Contortionist, a wonderful, wonderful, mulling intro, almost pained sounding, accommodating even, reflecting exactly what a contortionist does I suppose. But it got nasty, angry, hurt, responsive… It got amazing – this was how Radiohead should have developed – taking their cues from the aforementioned Oxford rockers, theoceanfloor deliver a pounding exhilarating sound that raised the hairs on your neck and the pressure of your blood. Pulses race, breath quickens, and before you know it, we’re back in accommodating mood, before lashing out one more time! This is a band that doesn’t pull their punches. It stores them and builds them up to knock you out. I should mention, they played an impromptu Christmas song, which was delightfully cheery and cheesy, with plenty of sleigh bell sounds, and happy boppy music. A quality departure seeing as it was indeed Chrimbo time. Graham, the lead singer, has real wit, and his musings as the band tune - or de-tune as the case may be – give the band real stage presence. Coupled with the violent guitar bursts from Olly and the angelic backing vocals from Steven, this is a band with energy and guile. The Christmas cheer (actually, I reckon it was just plain cheer) from drummer Gav really was fantastic. He enjoyed the music, and really got into it, a very capable percussionist. Overall, theoceanfloor have everything it takes to get you out of your seat and make you rock, all you’ve got to do is listen to them and see for yourself (listen and see? Eh?). A band not to be missed."
  

• The Whole Animal E.P [+ Show ]
  

  With chords that Stevie Wonder could've dreamt up whilst caught in his progressive 70's creative st...With chords that Stevie Wonder could've dreamt up whilst caught in his
  progressive 70's creative streak, and the sort of dark majesty that may
  burden you emotionally, but the knowledge that someone else feels this pain
  is assuring enough. Full of epic twists and turns that you could class as
  post-rock-emo-soul. except that would sound crap, so instead make up your
  own genre and fall in love with TheOceanFloor like I have.

Setlist

* Litmus Test
* Inveraray
* Late Sunday
* Spill
* Pixel Perfect
* The Whole Animal
* The Bite
* Gingerly
* Winning Smiles
* The Understudy
* Tonight You Belong To Me
* Footage
* Relevant Form
* The Contortionist

. . from this pool of material, a typical set from theoceanfloor sweeps from short, fractured intro to storming, epic outro in a powerful half-hour of beautiful chaos.

The one occasional cover version ( Tonight You Belong to Me ) is a dark, screwed-up re-reading of a classic standard.

Basic Requirements

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