I am a nervous flyer. It's not so much the physical act of aerodynamic flight as it is the apprehension of being trapped in a metal fuselage full of unfamiliar people for a sustained period of time. This puts me in a particular quandary, as my main occupation outside of contributing to this website requires me to fly to all kinds of remote locations, traveling in aircrafts ranging from larger Boeing 737’s down to tiny float planes. So far this year I have taken over thirty such flights, and will undoubtedly have to take a few more before December is through. No matter where the destination or the type of aircraft I am in, the ritual is always the same. I take my seat while we wait on the tarmac (or ocean), the cabin doors close, and as the anxiety begins to swell I close my eyes and put on Oliver Tank’s debut EP, Dreams. The use of music as a form of escapism is by no means a new concept, but its power cannot be overstated. The notion that a six-track EP, written and recorded in Sydney back in 2011, has the continual ability to help someone living on the other side of the world work through their own personal burdens is strikingly beautiful. Such is the power of great art, and as a complete body of work it rarely gets more accomplished than Dreams. With a release that is held in such a high regard, the thought of backing it up with a sophomore effort can be daunting. Evidently, no one cared to mention this to Oliver Tank, as he not only met expectations, but eclipsed them with his release of “Slow Motion Music”. This new offering begins with a collaboration between Oliver Tank and Fawn Myers, who featured twice on “Dreams”. The combination of a familiar voice and a further exploration of the previously introduced themes of love and dreaming act as a perfect musical segue into “Slow Motion Music”. From there, the collaborations continue with the Hillydilly-featured single, "Different Speed", with Ta-Ku, the UK’s Stumbleine appears on the enigmatic track "Her", and young Melbourne artist Hayden Calnin turns in a stirring performance on the stand-out track, "You Never Know". Although there are some additional players, this is still very much an Oliver Tank record. His ethereal croon drifts through each and every track as he delves into ideas of time and the pace at which life passes us by. On Different Speed, he implores, “slow down world, you move too fast for me” as Ta-Ku’s lush production ticks away, a concern that seemingly doesn’t apply in close proximity to the object of your affection, which is the romantic sentiment acknowledged in "Time Slows Down When You Walk Into The Room". Our inability to escape the captivity of time is the resonant motif that echoes throughout this EP, concluding with "Blessing In Disguise", a thematic reprise of sorts in which Oliver affirms, “life in real time moves too fast for me and you”. Profound, distinguished and aurally alluring, Oliver Tank has produced an EP with such lavish distinction that it is difficult to comprehend an oeuvre this monumental can come from someone so young. We highly suggest you acquire this absolute beacon of downtempo electronica for yourself, available now via iTunes. Alternatively you can stream the entire EP over at Four Oh Five.
Oliver Tank