THE OCELOTS
Everything, When Said Slowly (Rough Trade)
The second album from twin brother duo The Ocelots sees them building on the folk-rock sound they established on their debut full-length album Started To Wonder. This more country-influenced, Neil Young-like collection feels confident, assured and very well put together. The Wexford-born Ashley and Brandon Watson harmonise with the blood harmony sound we’ve come to expect from sibling duos but that doesn’t make it any less natural or deeply moving.
Second single The Good Of A Bad Year is the standout track, its wistful but insightful lyrics (“Feel the weight of a perfect day,”) combining with languid harmonica over subtle harmonic shifts that marry to the sentiment of the song perfectly. There’s Damien Rice in the melodies and Jeff Buckley amongst the more expressive moments, but The Ocelots are carving their own path from south-east Ireland to the rest of the world with intimate music full of space and wonder.
words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES
