Their sound has showed shades of their mellow yet tuneful post-punk forerunners such as Echo & the Bunnymen, Modern English, New Order, and The Smiths while still pursuing their own path. A fourth record, 1996's 'See', was released by Mercury/PolyGram before the band began leaving the majors altogether in the late 90s. The band did several independent releases from 1999 on into the 00s, including 2004's well-received 'Waterworks'. Then, several years later, the group began working on a new full length record, their first full album release in over a decade. Entitled 'Ultramarine', the band scheduled it for release on March 19, 2013 through Korda Records, a new Minneapolis-based cooperative label that the group helped launch in late 2012.
Over the years, they've gained a reputation as one of America's more influential dream pop artists, forming a sound that many artists would look to from the 90s onward. Their debut, 'The Ocean Blue', continues to draw praise from retrospective-minded musical critics as well as alternative music fans in general. In recent years, the group's followers have found 'Ultramarine' a spectacular return to form that recalls the band’s earliest work and should appeal to fans old and new alike.
On the title, band member and singer-songwriter David Schelzel has explained, "We chose Ultramarine to reflect several things. The mood of this record is a little blue, and harkens back to our other "blue" record, Cerulean. It's also a fun play on our name, and we were very conscious of our history as a band making this record. Thinking about our music, what it's meant to us and others. Asking a lot of existential questions about the band, what it was, is, and could be in the future."
Ultramarine was recorded in Minneapolis, MN, Portland, OR, and Mt Gretna, PA over several years, with Schelzel and drummer Peter Anderson producing. "This record unfolded in slow motion,” says Schelzel, “At a glacial pace. We were not on the clock we were when we were on the major labels. And we were not in an insulated studio world for months making the music. We made it mostly in our own studios, on our own time. Regular life drifted into this one more than our earlier records.”
Music recording and distribution, and the social networks of the Web have changed the landscape completely since the band’s last full length. Says Anderson, “We are using gear and technology on the recording side that for the most part didn’t exist when the band was making big budget studio records in the 90s. It’s allowed us to do a lot of things we’d never been able to do years ago, all at a much cheaper cost. We also have the ability to connect with people directly via the Web that wasn’t really there when we did our last release."
Musically, the new record is a return to form for the band. As well as a new beginning. Lyrically it is romantic, melancholic and impressionistic. The melodic singing, chimey guitars and lush keyboards the band is known for weave their way through the songs. Even the saxophone has returned on the opening track. But it is a record full of music that sounds very of the moment.
"It's an interesting time for us to be putting out a new record. So much of the music we see and hear now reminds me of things I loved growing up," say guitarist Oed Ronne. "My friends in their twenties like The Smiths and New Order. It's a strange thing, but good for us I think. We'd love to reconnect with our old fans, but also make new ones among the ranks of the young."
"I'm really looking forward to sharing this new music with people who know us and people who’ve never heard us before. And play some shows," says bass player Bobby Mittan. "It's been way too long."
Frozen
The Ocean Blue Lyrics
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In my heart
Blue in my face
White in my fist
I can't move
Frozen
No feeling now
It's gone
The lyrics to The Ocean Blue's song "Frozen" depict a state of emotional and physical stagnation. The phrase "Frozen in my heart" suggests a deep emotional freeze or numbness that has taken hold within the singer. This frozen state of the heart implies a lack of emotional responsiveness or a feeling of being trapped in a state of emotional paralysis.
The following lines, "Blue in my face, White in my fist, I can't move," further emphasize the sense of being immobilized. The color blue often symbolizes sadness or melancholy. Thus, the reference to feeling blue in the face suggests a profound sadness or grief that is difficult to express or release. The mention of white in the fist could symbolize a clenched fist, representing the singer's internal tension or frustration. The inability to move may indicate a sense of being trapped or unable to progress or change in their current emotional state.
The repetition of the word "Frozen" in the next stanza signifies a continued state of emotional and physical paralysis. The plea "Oh melt my heart" expresses a desire for release, a longing for the emotional freeze to thaw and for the singer to regain their ability to feel and connect emotionally. The use of the word "melt" suggests a longing for warmth, emotion, and a return to normalcy.
The final two lines of the lyrics, "No feeling now, it's gone," convey a profound sense of emptiness and loss. The singer acknowledges that they have reached a point where they no longer experience any emotional sensations. The feelings that were once present have vanished, leaving a void in their heart. This closing statement highlights the depth of the singer's emotional struggles and the longing for an awakening or transformation to occur.
Line by Line Meaning
Frozen
Immobile and paralyzed
In my heart
Deep within my emotions
Blue in my face
Experiencing sadness or depression
White in my fist
Clutching onto anger or frustration
I can't move
Feeling completely stuck and unable to progress
Oh melt my heart
Yearning for emotional warmth and connection
No feeling now
Lacking any sensation or emotion
It's gone
The previous emotions or experiences have vanished completely
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: David Schelzel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind