Review Time - Devin Townsend: Ocean Machine: Biomech

What's all this then?

Devin Townsend's Ocean Machine: Biomech probably counts for some of the most confusing cataloguing in music. Originally released in Japan in 1997 under the Band name Ocean machine, and the album title simply being Biomech, when released internationally afterwards they decided to just put under his real name anyway. The Dev would later go on to release more albums under Devin Townsend, The Devin Townsend band and The Devin Townsend Project, as well as another seperate persona as Ziltoid the omniscient (a 4th dimensional alien who travels to earth for the universe's finest cup of coffee), Not to mention his equally famous work in extreme outfit Strapping Young Lad, as well as a Parody Pop Punk band Punky Brüster. 

Thanks for messying up my itunes library, ya jerk.

And with that I present:

 The bearded one reviews: Devin Townend: Ocean Machine: Biomech: A review: Revenge of the rogue colon.

The muzak

Seventh wave sets the tone immediately. After a brief spoken word intro, a droning guitar riff drags the song to life, bringing more and more layers as the band joins in. At first it seems odd, the tone oddly indistinct, but it soons become clear this is all intentional; the guitars don't take centre stage here like most Rock or Metal albums, each instrument seems to contribute to a larger whole. The sound is dense with ambient keyboards, steady and relaxed drums, and subtle vocal harmonies at key points. Even the lead vocals don't seem to rise above the wall of noise, and Townsend's lyrics seem to perfectly reflect the sounds surrounding him:

"I'll wait for the ocean to rise up
And greet me as it rose up before"

Never have I heard an album so devoted to atmosphere above all else. Guitar riffs which normally seem uninteresting on their own, take new life when seen as part of the plethora of instruments that engulf you. I can only imagine Devin playing every instrument simulatneously, such is the sense of completeness in the harmonies.

I wouldn't put it past the mad bastard...

The next track, Life, showcases the catchiest and most uplifting song on the album. He croons about resilience, making the best of things, all surrounded by simply gorgeous synths. It's cheesy as all hell, but it works, and it's one of only 2 times in mermory I've loved the cheese completely unironically.

The other...

I'd follow him to hell and back, I would...

Most of the rest of the album follows in the vein of Seventh wave, only making the sound denser, revealing more and more with repeated listens. Even when listening to the album again for this review, I'm noticing more and more flourishes I didn't hear the first 50 or so times I've listened to it.

If there's a weak point on the album, it's the rather pointless sister. The entire album seems to come a stand still for a while; The drums come to a halt, and Devin seems to content to just overwhelm with noise and sporadic bouts of acoustic guitar for a bit. It's an odd decision, given that the proceding track, 3. a.m. is similarly ambience focused, yet has a much greater sense of purpose.

The album does seem to end rather anticlimactically too, The Death of music being an odd, trippy song with a slow synth drum beat, a slow synth bass, with more synths piled on top of that. The song shows sparks of genius, with melodies that come out of nowhere and reside directly beneath your skin, but the song itself is far too long at 12 minutes, when most of it is just the same beat over and over with only very minor flourishes for the most part.

What's important though, is to take it as a whole. The meanderings of Sister and The Death of Music do nothing to diminsh the impact of the album, and often it's refreshing to have them as breathers in a full listen. The album is dense, and may put a lot of people off at first, but stick with it, and you may find one of the most rewarding albums you'll hear in a long time.

And with that I give my seal of approval:

Geddit? 'cause it's a seal, and the album's about the ocean and stuff too.

Oh forget it, I'm going home.

Recommended tracks:

Life, Night, Funeral, Seventh Wave

The Bearded One is ridin' the Murder train, the Murder train a comin'.