A landmark moment for Ocean Alley, their debut LP Lost Tropics (2016) sees the six-piece depart from the reggae roots of their Yellow Mellow and In Purple EPs to ramp up the fuzzy psychedelic and surf-rock vibes, showcasing a new level of maturity and self-assuredness in their DIY song-writing. Spawning singles including the introspective opener ‘Lemonworld’ and sun-soaked ‘Holiday’, one of Lost Tropics’ strengths is its eclectic nature, stemming from the band’s shared desire to push their own creative boundaries and continue improving their craft. This manifests in an ability to balance emotive and tender with fun and kooky – from the sensual listener favourite ‘Partner In Crime’ to the punky, experimental ‘Stripes In My Mind’ and wavy, hazy ‘Jellyfish’, Ocean Alley continue to surprise the listener across Lost Tropics’ 11 tracks. The record, with 70 million streams to date, was key in consolidating momentum for the Northern Beaches natives as it was followed with a huge run of international dates and sold out Australian shows that allowed Ocean Alley to prove themselves as one of the country’s most exciting and hardest working bands.
Aquamarine orange vinyl