Bray and The Dens’ New Single “Oceanography”

Bray and The Dens’ new single “Oceanography” perpetuates the same distinctive flair characterizing the former’s songwriting prowess thus far. The San Francisco headquartered recording artist and his cohorts are further solidifying their status as one of the pre-eminent alt/synth-pop outfits working today with each new release and “Oceanography” represents a decided leap forward in both execution and ambition. Bray’s penchant for compelling hooks and one-of-a-kind lyrical content blends with his inspired musical arrangements as readily as ever without ever repeating itself.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/braymusic/

Avoiding retracing your steps requires an assortment of qualities. One that Bray and The Dens have in spades is that they approach each new work on its own merits rather than framing it in the context of what has come before. It’s difficult for any band or solo artist to sound like they are debuting with each new release, but Bray and his bandmates maintain a freshness with each new outing that surges with exuberance and unbridled inspiration.

I hear in the daring tempo change that defines much of “Oceanography”. It transforms a near-languid ballad-like cut into a sweeping synth-pop gem that’s full of color and life. The overall coherence that the song reaches thanks to that shift is one of, if not the key to its success. I’m quite taken with how the song’s threads coalesce into a surprisingly lush mini-symphony of sound.

Drawing connections between the sea and the object of Bray’s affection is a masterstroke. This flash of poetic insight implies much without ever painting a picture for listeners with a heavy hand – depth, beauty, stillness, and energy alike suggest themselves from the confluence of words, music, and voice. Bray’s voice is an ideal instrument for conveying those qualities. He has a strong, yet delicate, voice that grabs my attention and especially commands my respect during the song’s stirring refrains

BANDCAMP: https://bray.bandcamp.com/track/oceanography-single

Those moments crystallize, as they should, the heart of the song. Bray reaches the zenith of his self-expression without it ever feeling or sounding overwrought to my ears. The musical accompaniment during those moments ramps itself up accordingly and achieves a near-perfect synthesis with Bray’s voice. It’s clear that he and Dens members such as guitarist Nervo and synthesizer player Andy Smooth worked hard to create an unified mood for this track and, like the best often do, they make it sound as natural as breathing.

I regret not hearing this band and Bray’s work until now. They are several albums into their career now and “Oceanography” hails from their upcoming new album release, so I still have time to redress my lack of familiarity. I’m grateful for that. I’m grateful that there are still bands and artists among us who share my love for complete songwriting that checks off every box and practically overflows with genuine inspiration. Bray and The Dens’ “Oceanography” has the spark of life in a way that too many new songs do not and it will prove to be just as exhilarating of a listening experience for you as it was for me. 

Mindy McCall