Scatterchild makes a big comeback with "New Ocean," a genre-blurring composition with a restrained contemplation and an expansive, striking atmosphere. The song features vocals from Quentin Wylie of punk upstarts GETNER, and it makes for an especially dramatic juxtaposition between Wylie’s snarling vocal presence and the tortured, inward-looking character of Plent’s words.
That vocal tension is merely one of the things that defines “New Ocean.” The production is a blend of lush strings, driving rhythms, and glitchy ocean recordings that creates an ethereal yet powerful sound. The result is a surprisingly mobile track, blending emotional heft with a beat that keeps it moving forward.
There’s a dramatic scale to the arrangement that makes the song more than the sum of its parts. The combination of strings and rhythm lends it grandeur, and the ocean samples add an unexpected touch of texture that underscores the title and ambiance of the music. Overall, it has the big-drama of a Bond theme, but Scatterchild pulls that off within a more current and unpredictable musical framework. The cooperation with Wylie also gives “New Ocean” a special edge. His sneer, with its punk inflection, acts as a strong antithesis to the song’s more restrained emotional heart, producing a push-and-pull dynamic that keeps the listener engaged.
The track is accompanied by an engaging music video that maintains Scatterchild’s ambitious visual approach. The project’s history of intense and off-the-wall visuals, from being buried alive to jogging until exhaustion and wrecking a doll’s house in slow motion, sets the stage for another visually stunning chapter.
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Indie Rock