Ocean Colour Scene are back with a new album and already sold-out acoustic set

By Keith Bailie
OCEAN Colour Scene’s acoustic set at the Limelight on Saturday April 5 has sold out. Promoters have revealed the gig has been so popular they are currently negotiating a possible venue change.

The Brit pop stalwarts are still going strong after 15 years together, which has seen them record 11 top 20 hits including Hundred Mile High City and Riverboat Song. Ocean Colour Scene are also bringing out a new album. Guitarist Steve Cradock said the album has a more stripped back sound.

“We really wanted to get back to basics with this album”, he said.
“We wanted to make a really stream-lined rock’n’roll record. As it turned out there’s some rockier tunes and some mellow stuff as well, but they work really well together.”
Singer Simon Fowler believes the band has found a new work ethic in their old age.
He said: “We were quite sensible for once. Steve would come over, we’d work on the tunes and then agree to reconvene the next day, rather than head to the nearest bar.

“It really worked. next morning he’d have come up with these amazing guitar parts.”
Ocean Colour Scene have also stepped into the world of political protest with their anti-war song Go To Sea which highlights how the British Army courts young Scottish men. The controversial lyrics reads: “When you’re twenty one and north of the border the chance is/The military man will come to offer you a hand and advances.”

Fowler took the time to explain the thought process behind the lyrics: “It’s about the fact the army concentrate on getting young guys in Scotland to sign up when they need to increase recruitment. The next thing, they’re off to Iraq.”
This isn’t the first time OCS have played an acoustic set.
Guitarist Steve said: “We did an acoustic tour last Summer and backed it up with the ‘Live Acoustic At The Jam House’ album. It was a great opportunity to re-interpret the songs and remind people that we’re still here”.