In early November, Backyard Opera spoke with triple J Hottest 100 winners Ocean Alley to discuss the upcoming festival season, including their plans for Laneway Festival on February 1st – 9th. Part of this discussion included talks of new music, which the band has been working on throughout the year. Following “Infinity” and “Stained Glass”, the band are closing out 2019 with their third single, “Tombstone”, a track that progresses their psychedelic fusion of reggae and indie rock to a new level. 

“Tombstone” has everything Ocean Alley are known for, from the wobbly guitar riff and dynamic pedal boards, to the funky slap bass guitar lines and high hat heavy drums. Everything is still grounded in that trademark reggae psychedelia sound. However, the track moves away from familiar territory through its structure. Borrowing from progressive rock, each verse and chorus swells and evolves, building more and more over the four minute runtime. Each of the six band members get an opportunity to shine, with reverb heavy keys and guitars creating the airy space effect in the verses, heavy snares and distorted guitar chords pushing the energy in the pre-chorus and duelling guitar melodies creating an emotional climax in the chorus. None of this is more evident than in the breakdown before the final chorus, where multiple instruments come together in harmony to almost create a six-man solo. Leading into the final chorus, which acts as the song’s catharsis, the importance of these moving parts is made clear when they are all stripped back, leaving only singer Baden Donegal. Special mention has to go to Donegal’s performance, not only in the final chorus but across the entire track. While he has never been a slouch when it comes to range and emotion, there is a rawness and dedication to “Tombstone” that shows his growth as a performer. 

By the climactic final chorus, “Tombstone” shows that Ocean Alley have managed to find new avenues for musical growth, without compromising the distinct sound that they’ve perfected over the years.

Listen to “Tombstone” below and be sure to catch them at St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival next February. Ticket information here: https://lanewayfestival.com/