Ocean Beach is releasing a new single every first day of the month. So far, thanks to using a previous laptop that would not look out of place as a prop in a steampunk movie, I missed September’s release – but I will retrospectively review that one. I love their 1st October release, Be Together.

This single has one of those emotive, bittersweet melodies that you can’t stop listening to once the track kicks off. Vocally it’s performed in a great, steady tenor that delivers well on the feelings and inflection of where the emotions are going as the lines come across the headphones. Added to this, we have a gentle sonic going on with the lead guitar, providing what jazz normally does with a counter delivery – however this is not jazzy in it’s vibe. It’s sheer road trip soft rock ballad greatness.

We’ve got what’s mentioned above as our lead, and these are amply supported by some gorgeous, warm rhythm and acoustic guitars, strings and a complex bass working great with the steady drums that are holding a tempo that keeps it as a driving-your-car-to option for anyone who likes the genres it covers. And it covers more than one. AOR, indie, prog rock, surf, and that avenue of taste and all that comes with it. Massive kudos to Dale Cotton for the studio knob twiddling to bring it all together so beautifully.

The last maybe minute is a treat of the band playing us out with a not-quite-a-lead solo lead solo. You’re going to have to give it a listen to see what I mean, hah! What’s the song about, I hear you collectively bellow. From the EPK: Songwriter and frontman Gary Dalhousie says that ‘Be Together‘ is a tribute to meditation; “an internal conversation between the Ahamkara, the self and the Atman, the soul. The ahamkara is temporary and asks questions of the permanent atman such as, “should I party” or “should I seek solace”. There’s also a tension between my Pasifika half and my European half which can be a separation I sometimes struggle to reconcile. Ultimately, all the little questions I have in my life are batted away, twice a day, through meditation. It allows me to think clearer, act with positivity and generally, Be Together.” 

I certainly see this getting an airing on radio stations like 95bFM, RadioActive, RDU, so I hope it gets some support from the commercial side such as ZM or More FM. Definitely one to enjoy, as previously mentioned, on a drive, but also in private with the headphones on while working out (good beat and tempo) or going for a trot.

Ocean Beach are prolific, I have to say. Give them a listen – Be Together is on Bandcamp or Spotify now, so you have no excuse.