Album Review... Airship - Stuck In The Ocean

'Stuck In The Ocean' is the début album by Mancunian band Airship. While waiting for the making of the album, I've been feeding off the band’s 2 EPs, namely 'Algebra' and 'Spirit Of The Beehive'. Maybe because I'm really used to the songs on their EPs, the new mixes heard in the actual album didn’t sound quite right to me.



Starting off the album, we have 'Algebra' - a new mix. Instead of the 'old' one which opens directly with guitar chords, the 'new' version has an intro to it. The intro, in my opinion, doesn't do much good. I much prefer the song opening directly. Despite being a bit disappointed by the first track, the second track made it all up. 'Invertebrate' is an extremely joyous song. Its bouncy rhythm and loud crashes just makes me feel a rush of serotonin to my brain. Although I don’t really know the lyrics, I still hum engagingly to it - that’s how good it is. Don’t trust me? Try for yourself!



Following up next is 'Kids', a song that I think has a lot of meaning in it. Musically, the song is energetic and would be very suitable for the nearly over summer. The fourth track, 'Gold Watches' acts as an interlude, as it's not as loud as the previous tracks. Occupy yourself in an adventure with Airship by playing 'Gold Watches'. I somehow linked the green in their band shot to this track, 'Gold Watches' seems to be taking me to that particular forest.







'Spirit Party is one of my favourite tracks by Airship from their EPs. To be frank, I do not quite like this album version. This 'new' version seems much more fast-paced. I enjoy the bit of serenity that’s in the 'old' one. The bit towards the end is a bit too chaotic for my liking. After having heard this album version, I actually went back to the EP version, and not surprisingly, found myself more in love with the old one.



Fast forward to the later part of the album, there is 'Test'. It has an interesting recurring guitar riff that is played throughout the song. The title track, 'Stuck In The Ocean' is found at the very last of the album. 'I've been living in a coma' starts the song in a mysterious way. Soon as the song progresses, and the drums and guitar kicks in, it comes alive. It puts a nice little full stop to the album. You’ll find some of the earlier tunes from the album ringing in your head for a while.

Even though I am mildly disappointed by the new mixes of the older songs off Airship’s EP, this album is highly enjoyable in terms of a début.



Airship - Stuck In The Ocean

Out of 10: 8/10



Algebra - Airship by [PIAS] Recordings



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Airship - Spirit Party



By - Coco Wong

Interview... with Airship

Despite Airship having a tight schedule, the band from Manchester somehow managed to squeeze in a chat with one of our overseas reporters, Coco Wong. Here she interviews Elliot from the band.

A while ago you posted two tracks on your MySpace which are going to be featured on your debut album. Can you tell us more about the album?

Yea we did the record towards the end of 2010, spilt between an old residential studio in Wales and a studio in Bath. It’s all finished and mixed so we are planning it to bring it out the second half of 2011. We're really pleased with the results and can't wait to get it out. We really haven't felt like a proper entity yet because we haven't had a record out, so this can really show our true colors and what the band’s all about.

Are there any interesting stories/anecdotes that took place while recording the album?

The studio in Wales Rockfield is where Queen recorded "A Night At The Opera" so prior to the recording I spent time perfecting my Freddie Mercury mustache in order to channel Freddie’s vibes. I think it worked pretty well, I spent a lot of time drinking red wine and playing the piano Bohemian Rhapsody was recorded on, it’s a beautiful instrument. The other thing we did was set up a synthesizer room, as we borrowed a lot of vintage synths from all over the place. That pretty much turned into a rave room, you would generally find one or a few of us in there late night after a few to many shandies with a strobe light, blasting synth noise past the twilight hour.

Being from Manchester, do you seek any of the local bands, both past and present as your influence?

Yea I think to a degree. I guess we're all fans of Joy Division and The Smiths, it’s hard to tell if they have been a massive inspiration on our music but i guess they have played their part. On a local level I think it’s a different kind of influence. We don't want to sound like any of the bands that are around like Dutch Uncles, Everything Everything, Delphic or The Answering Machine but I think we inspire to push each other further, you always keep an eye on what they're doing. I guess it’s like healthy competition, where you want to see everyone succeed.

You are touring with The Joy Formidable, can you give us a deeper insight into the tour and JF?

Yea it’s currently four days in, it’s been great so far. The Joy Formidable are a great live band and brilliant people, having toured with them previously makes the initial settling in a lot easier. It’s great to see them getting the recognition they deserve. The Chapman Family are also on the bill and it’s been good getting to know them, they have been a great laugh. We’ve been running out of booze continually every night due to poor riders, so the other night the Chapman’s guitarist resorted to downing a massive bottle of milk half full of vodka. I have never seen anyone drink that much milk that fast and keep it in their stomach, it was an amazing achievement.

What are your plans for summer 2011? (Any exciting tours or festivals planned yet?

Yea there is definitely some stuff in the pipeline but unfortunately i can't give away anything at the moment.

Once again my thanks go to Coco Wong for this interview!

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Airship - Spirit Party

Its All Indie: 2010 Summer EP

Here is the special EP for getting us to 700 'likes'

I really do hope to give you more brilliant tracks :) So another for 1000 or two months time? What ever comes first will be the date for the next mixtape!

Download [HERE]