7/23/2009

Happy 25th Birthday Ocean Rain.


Widely considered one of Echo and the Bunnymen's best, 1984's Ocean Rain made #38 on The Observer's 100 GREATEST BRITISH ALBUMS list. Ocean Rain went to #4 on the UK Albums Chart, and to #87 in the US.

The band's fourth studio album was recorded in Liverpool, Bath, and Paris; the Paris material with a 35-piece orchestra. Three singles were issued from Ocean Rain, "The Killing Moon," "Silver," and "Seven Seas," which was released in July 1984. The album's title track, "Ocean Rain," is a long-time Waist High favorite.

Described as "The greatest album ever made" by the band during its promotional campaign, Ocean Rain remains "Echo and the Bunnymen's most ambitious and cohesive '80s release--a steppingstone that really should have led the band to world-wide fame. This is where the band left any traces of post-punk shambling behind and reached for the stars. The majestic mood of the album is heightened by the extravagant string arrangements that underpin Ian McCulloch's plaintive croon. On 'The Killing Moon,' one of the band's finest moments, the orchestra is deployed to spectacular effect. McCulloch gives the performance of his life..."

Echo and the Bunnymen, minus Pete de Freitas and Les Pattinson, celebrated their 30 year anniversary in 2008 by performing Ocean Rain in it's entirety on a handful of dates in the UK, and with one show at Radio City Music Hall.

Material:
waisthigh.net & amazon.co.uk