`Boisterous Love` is the debut album from Ogives Big Band hailing from Bristol, who initially formed as an instrumental trio with a view to expand the existing Øgïvęš solo material. Ogives was started as a solo home recording project in 2008 by Ben Harris, sporadically recording and releasing ambient and noisy releases. It was at a release show for the EP XrmXfrme in 2018, when all this changed, and the set was split into two halves; one solo and one with a full band. It was at this point that Ogives became a Big Band with Oli Cocup on drums and Ben Holyoake on bass, both play on the new record. In 2020, vocalist, Steve Roberts joined Ogives Big Band, transforming a previously instrumental setup into a much fiercer prospect. Replete with furiously yelled vocals, serene croons and abstract lyricism and wordplay.
The album opens with `/…./…….` a fifteen second riff driven intro that emerges into the first vocalised track `Super Sanity` with its churning riffs and pounding, hammering drums. The vocals are forceful and come over almost as a stream of consciousness but hint at heroes and a brave new world. I did read that there is a running theme throughout the release of heroes, and the death of what you assumed were worthy goals in life being falsehoods as you mature. As the track progressed it become a mixture of speed metal blended with a touch of prog. Maybe the title alluded to a formula to balance one`s mind, who knows.
We tread a similar path with `Chronic Thuggery` which retains the previously shared savagery of noise initially before becoming more reflective and counselling care a third of the way through before reverting to its more hostile path. Again, the composition becomes introspective towards its conclusion. We are led in gently to `Brandishment` before it erupts into life with jagged almost stop start riffages and faster segments which drive the piece on in a nigh on fight or flight head rush.
`Annihilation` isn`t what you`d imagine it to be with its title strap but is a fairly absorbing soundscape and almost a precursor for what`s to follow with the final offering `Absolute Unit` which is a real curved ball of sorts. There`s a kind of jazzy intro with spoken word and roared vocals. As it evolves it becomes quite contemplative with what sounds like a solitary trumpet adding a further unconventional dimension before flitting between a racing pace and doom passages as it concludes.
`Boisterous Love` becomes after the initial shock to the system quite animated and energetic and I have to say really drew me into its many layers. It could be viewed as just over thirty minutes of controlled aggression but that would be doing it a disservice.
I`m sure each of us will come away with something different from this release. One to file under uneasy but unconventionally enjoyable listening.
Rating 8/10
