Andy John Bradford's Oceans 5 is a progressive folk-rock supergroup fronted by UK singer-songwriter and solo artist Andy John Bradford. When you think of Progressive music, you tend not to imagine a 200-year-old traditional tune with sea shanty lyrics. However, "prog" is exactly what Andy had in mind when he approached guitarist Colin Tench, with The Mingulay Boat Song. Colin Tench (BunChakeze, Corvus Stone & The Minstrel’s Ghost) to help out.
They assembled an unlikely band, purely to record this one song, and they produced a version of The Mingulay Boat Song unlike any version before. They cared not if anybody actually wanted to hear such a version.
This lineup clearly had great chemistry and despite the fact that they were all busy with their own bands, and they all agreed that this band has something to say. Andy has a great feel for songwriting and Oceans 5 is proving to be rather good at twisting music into a whole new art form, from bouncy sing-along songs to songs with an epic feel.
The debut album "Return to Mingulay" could be considered a progressive folk rock album with an old-fashioned crossover style. Nothing too clever or extreme just oceans of melodies, there are 5 core members in Oceans 5 and although they are all influenced by the progressive music they all have very different approaches to composition and style. This combination has resulted in songs that really don’t sound like something you’ve heard before. The music owes more to the “anything goes” philosophy of the 70s than the finely tuned precision of 2013. There are clearly echoes of The Strawbs, Pink Floyd and even Thin Lizzy here.
Side Note: Music should never be a perfect science. It should be a conversation with many opinions, unrestricted by language or bias.
REVIEW EXCERPT FROM PROG ARCHIVES
by Gruvan Dahlman
4 Stars
The album is a very cohesive one, with the gentle vocals of Andy John Bradford, accentuated and accompanied by Colin Tench's beautiful guitar playing. The vocals are gentle, almost frail in a beautiful way. The gentleness and the sometimes roughness of the guitar creates an aural tapestry that is a mix of several bands and artists from the past. I think of Barclay James Harvest, Camel, Fairport Convention, occasionally Supertramp and Kevin Lamb. Still, the influences are there but hey do manage to retain an identity of their very own. The band is as a whole amazing with details coming my way as I listen. The keyboards are also very sensitively played, giving space and depth to the whole thing.
credits
released October 7, 2013
The Band
Andy John Bradford: Vocals & 12 String Guitar
(Solo Artist)
Colin Tench: Guitars
(Corvus Stone, BunChakeze, The Minstrel's Ghost, CTP among others)
Stef Flaming: Bass Guitar
(Murky Red)
Victor Tassone: Drums & Percussion
(Unified Past)
Marco Chiappini: Keyboards
(The Minstrel’s Ghost, CTP & Gandalf's Project)
Special Guests:
Lorelei McBroom Vocals:
(Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones & Rod Stewart)
Andres Guazzelli): Piano & Orchestration
(Solo, Corvus Stone)
supported by 5 fans who also own “Return to Mingulay”
What can I say about Big Big Train that I haven’t said before?
This album took a little while to grow on me but by the time I saw it live I was in love with its humongous, over-egged pomposity! They do it all with such passion, excitement and amazing musicianship.
Essential. Crinklechips
supported by 5 fans who also own “Return to Mingulay”
Soothfully a phenomenal prog rock album—an instant classic. What motivates me to say so, is the music’s incredible expressiveness & its wonderfully cinematic song structures. Jargon is a very good fit with this band. It is quite evident that the band’s current lineup have great chemistry together & that they share a common affinity to this vein of music. I look forward to their next creation. Drifting Sun are definitely one of prog rock’s brightest lights. Thank you, DS!
9+/10. Alrihkh
Every day until a Covid vaccine is found, Temporary Residence makes one of its records Name Your Price. Today’s is a classic from EitS. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 13, 2020
Bringing an expertise in crafting soundtracks to their 6th album of atmospheric, carefully chiseled, dynamic space rock. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 11, 2016
supported by 4 fans who also own “Return to Mingulay”
Although the 3 guest vocalists on this album sing wonderfully, and the songs are diverse and creative, I still prefer the voice of Peter Falconer. Still, I highly recommend this album, aware that my preference is somewhat of a bias. Some of the guitar playing on here is incredible. Despite the new vocalists, the sound of this album is still distinctly Drifting Sun. Personally, I give it 7.5/10. Alrihkh