MUSIC FOR NURSES

Oceansize is one of those prog rock bands that is hard to classify due to their general style of music. Are they alt prog with their hardcore sound that bands like Coheed And Cambria follow suit? Are they contemporary prog due to their sound having similar veins to that of Porcupine Tree? Are they psych prog for their use of modern day psychedelia like what Crippled Black Phoenix does? It is hard to pinpoint these lads from the UK, but even then their music is an excellent foray into this vibrant land of psychedelic infused hardcore prog rock. I find their best release to be Effloresce at the moment, but I think their EP of Music For Nurses is a surprise close second.

Music For Nurses EP is a transitional EP where Oceansize went away from their glitchy space rock leanings on Effloresce, and more towards a post hardcore impression on Everyone Into Position. This means Music For Nurses feels a bit more focused on the hardcore side of the band, whilst also dabbling in moments of space rock magnitude.

My favorite moments on this EP are actually the more post rock-esque attitudes that infuse space rock texture, mostly of the second half with Dead Dogs An' All Sorts and As The Smoke Clears. The first half is a bit more hardcore, which I think is really great. It adds this nice little divide between the two sides of Oceansize, the more raging and dramatic hardcore side that dabbles in a more alternative prog way, and the calmer post rock and space elements that is more akin to contemporary prog, with the third track, Drag The 'Nal, being this in between piece that allows these two sides of Oceansize together, which I find makes this album all but bad.

I have one issue that doesn't quite make this EP be my favorite though, and it is more of a preference thing, but I prefer the more space rock leanings that Effloresce delivered, and I was kinda disappointed to not have found them here, or on Everyone Into Position. While I do really like this EP, I never quite enjoyed it as much as their more space and psychedelic leanings that they strayed from over their career. While I know and appreciate bands for changing and moving on, I cannot help but miss those old days.

Sentimentalities aside, I think this is a great EP all around, a good one to check into if you like the more hardcore and noisy side of prog. Definitely recommended for a good time.