The Wombats – Oh! The Ocean

The Wombats’s noughties indie-rock sound has been ingrained in minds across generations – their 2007 hits Let’s Dance to Joy Division and Kill the Director are surely not to be excluded from any throwback-themed club nights throughout the UK, and Greek Tragedy from their 2015 record, Glitterbug, has seen a resurgence on TikTok. With this, there is no doubt that Matthew Murphy, Tord Øverland Knudsen and Dan Haggis are stars in the beloved alternative rock sector of the Brit music scene. Although they are most well known for highlights from their debut album Proudly Present… A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation, they do not let it define them – their latest project, Oh! The Ocean displays a different side of the trio as they ditch maximalist production and usher themselves into a new era.

The first moment on Oh! The Ocean, Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come, is easy on the ears with a nonchalant tone and the three-piece’s dreamy harmonies. Murphy presents inquietude as he discusses acknowledgement of personal shortcomings; it appears he attempts to make peace with them in a blasé manner, but it’s not entirely convincing. Can’t Say No is nostalgic, on the other hand, as the instrumentals pick up similarly to their earlier work. Although the two songs have opposite production styles, they relate to a central theme of self-awareness. Blood on the Hospital Floor follows suit and acts as the grown-up adaptation of Greek Tragedy from a decade prior, both musically and lyrically, allowing it to stand out as the band embraces modernity whilst staying true to their roots.

Kate Moss is unlike its counterparts as it adds electronic percussive elements into the mix – it breaks up the established flow, but not in a jarring way as Gut Punch eases back into previous tonality with the implementation of soft synths and bubbly keys. My Head Is Not My Friend, Grim Reaper and The World’s Not Out to Get Me, I Am, however, circle back once and for all to concepts and compositions found in Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come and Can’t Say No.

Oh! The Ocean wraps up with the three-track run of Reality Is A Wild Ride, Swerve (101) and Lobster where critical introspection is revisited, but is respectful to the self rather than deprecating. Maybe they have become hopeful, or perhaps still mentally self-destructive – the answer is found in Lobster. The ocean is not blatantly referenced until this point and The Wombats make use of leitmotifs surrounding the serene environment of a beach to unveil wellness and a final sense of calmness.

Overall, this project is some of their best work to date. The Wombats work seamlessly with one another to show off their newfound style, and although certain moments are reminiscent of their early days, Oh! The Ocean comes across as more genuine and mature as they replace angst tropes with deep soul-searching.

Taryn Crowley
Image: Julia Friedland-Godfrey

Oh! The Ocean is released on 14^th February 2025. For further information or to order the album visit The Wombat’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come here: