Holographic Blues
ThoughART, 2021
9/10
The songwriting duo of Tommy Oberon and Rebecca Rose, Oberon Rose, returns with 9 new tunes, where their throwback nods shine amid pop, folk, Americana and psychedelic sounds with Glen Metcalfe handling drums and Chris Listorti contributing bass, piano, synth and backing vocals.
“Sinner” starts the listen with an immediately memorable rhythm as playful percussion, a punchy delivery and plenty of melody are present in the rockabilly tinted opener, and “Miss Lonely Heart” follows with fluid guitar work from Oberon and an anthemic quality to the sing-alongs and, eventually, strategic piano.
Further along, “Losers Of The Year” recruits acoustic guitar in a ballad like setting of much beauty, while “Chinese Whisper” brings some power-pop influences to the retro climate that sounds indebted to an earlier decade in all the best ways. “Falling Up”, a stand out track, then meshes folk and pop ideas into a breezy, psychedelic spirited adventure you won’t forget anytime soon.
The final 2 tracks don’t disappoint either, as “Demoniac” displays timeless garage rock sensibilities with some warm grit, and “A New Song” exits the listen piano focused alongside a poetic, reflective tone.
Rose, who writes the lyrics but doesn’t appear on the recording, offers plenty of eloquent wordplay, and Oberon and company certainly expand on their British Invasion formula as they turn in a career highlight across these very engrossing tunes.
Travels well with: The Kinks- Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire 50th Anniversary; Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band- Straight To You Live