Stream: OCS (fka Oh Sees), ‘Memory of a Cut Off Head’

Daiana Feuer on August 29th, 2017

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John Dwyer, in his Thee Oh Sees days, at Burgerama 2015 (Photo by Samantha Saturday)

Perhaps John Dwyer couldn’t resist the sentimental idea of putting out a 20th album in the 20th year of his band’s existence. Whatever the reason, the band is following up “Orc,” released just last Friday, with “Memory Of A Cut Off Head” on Nov. 17. Where “Orc” focused on the hard, loud, supernatural rock that most associate with Oh Sees, this next album takes it way back to Dwyer’s early, softer roots. Written and recorded in his Stu Stu Studio with longtime collaborator Brigid Dawson, the title track says it all. There are strings. It’s pastoral. They’ve traded in the Batmobile for a wagon and set off on a journey across the moors.

To illuminate this album’s gentle journey, Heather Lockie was brought in for string arrangements, Mikal Cronin provided horn arrangements, and they revived the good old saw, wielded by Patrick Mullins, who also handles some “electronics.” Moreover, after already chopping off “Thee” from “Oh Sees” this summer, the band enters the fall with a shorter haircut, and will henceforth be known as OCS.

||| Stream: “Memory of a Cut Off Head”