Oh joy - Dead Bee
Info: It's the first review of 2016 here and I'm glad that (a) it's a beaut of a tune and (b) the circle of musical life keeps coming round! Here we have a brand new track, 'Dead Bee', from a brand new band of sorts. Dublin three-piece Oh joy are the reincarnation of well-known local act The Journals who first featured here almost 2 years ago. The band wrapped up 2015 with a show in the Thomas House in Dublin 8 just a few nights ago, showcasing their new material from forthcoming EP And Joy For All which is due for release in March.
Firstly I have to be straight up and say I've always been a big fan of the music Oliver Moyles, Alex Cummins and John McDowell made as The Journals and have witnessed first hand what good musicians they are. Just as the band have drawn a line in the sand, so must we, and I'm very pleased that the first taste of Oh joy's song-writing retains their technical strengths as musicians but moves notably toward a different sound.
The band have also gone from self-recording to professional studio time but there's still a rawness on 'Dead Bee', guitars are gritty and vocals have a live (and tiny Glen Hansard) feel to them whilst on drums we're treated to snappy snares and restrained but crashing cymbals galore. This leads to a slow build up that is always loud in a sense, the final minute of the track enveloping you in a 360 degree wall of static and distortion. I can't wait for the EP in March and to see Oh joy live, 2016 has started brightly.
Like / Listen & Follow:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohjoyohjoyohjoy
