PLANKTON - Ocean Tales

Superb 5th studio disc by this exceptional, blues-based, Hendrix-inspired, instrumental heavy guitar band from Sweden featuring two amazing guitarists who trip deep, dynamic, world-class, six-string "earth blues fusion" into the "outskirts of infinity". Complete with a first-rate, groove-induced rhythm section, strong compositions and a top-shelf production, Plankton stands tall in a class all their own. A cosmic, mind-blowing, retro-70s heavy guitar journey that is recommended to fans of Hendrix, Trower, Frank Marino, Uli Jon Roth, Tommy Bolin, Gov't Mule & Wishbone Ash.

::T R A C K S::

1. WE COME IN PEACE
2. IN THE MEADOWS (sample clip)
3. SMALL STEPS, GIANT LEAPS (sample clip)
4. POMPERIPOSSA
5. I SEE LAND (sample clip)
6. TIME WOUNDS ALL HEALS
7. FIRST SNOW
8. PLANKTONS SANS FRONTIERS
9. WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (sample clip)

The mermen of Plankton continue their deep dive into the infinite depths of progressive guitar-based musical expression with their latest release, OCEAN TALES. Having been a huge fan of their eclectic twin guitar assault from the very beginning, this release captured my complete attention.. from the very first analog tape machine sound opening up this decompression chamber tour of the Stratocaster-hued rainbows far beneath the seas of infinity.. and sustained itself throughout the entire 53 minutes and 14 seconds of the journey.
There is a maturity and depth within the arrangements on this project which represent both a departure and an evolution from their prior releases. Whereas before, I would broadly categorize their internal musical hierarchy as world-class guitarists/tone sculptors first and composers/arrangers second. On this release, however, that hierarchy is inverted: the primary focus is on the compositions and the arrangements encapsulated within them.
There is a seamless melodic contrapuntal counterpoint and structural flow in EVERYTHING: the grooves, feels, rhythm figures and single-line work (both individual leads AND orchestrated twin lead sections) display a well-thought out "place-for-everything/everything-in-its-place" cohesion in all aspects of every track. An occupational hazard inherent in this approach is that sometimes.. ironically.. excellent technical facility yields fretwork which is too pedestrian; too economical; too homogenized; too "squeaky clean."
You may put aside these concerns - there is a sense of fire and urgency that comes through all of the structural precision (check out We Come In Peace and When Worlds Collide for particularly smoking examples of this concept in action), revealing a fully-realized musical vision from a group at the top of their game. Plankton is keenly aware of "ebb & flow" dynamics, and give each track ample time to blossom, grow and evolve - only one track clocks in at under 5:00, and 4 out of 9 are over 6:00. All of them are inventive, memorable and full of their patented "turn on a dime" shape-shifting transitions. Pomperipossa exhibits this musical morphology perfectly, like a musical version of a bi-polar manic phase-shifted tour of the collective unconscious - alternately brooding, scary, uplifting, terrifying, cascading into a peaceful resolution.. and that's just one track!
Ocean Tales - as the title infers - tells miles wide and miles deep musical stories with a cascading fluidity and liquid-silver smoothness. Each track takes you to another stylistic port of call.. classic single coil stratifications are sprayed over everything, like sonic waves slamming into the shores of your awareness, drenched in effects that are infused into the tones like an analog IV drip that intensifies and heightens the sonic experience on every level. Go ahead - book your trip with the Plankton cruise line - and enjoy the one trip you won't ever have to come back from.. once it's all in your head. All you have to do is listen..

Jimmy Ryan (Truth Squad) (February 2010)