Ocean Alley have returned with their first piece of new music since the release of their 2020 album, Lonely Diamond, sharing the feel-good “Touch Back Down” today.
Having last treated listeners to fresh music by way of their Like a Version medley of Pink Floyd classics back in March, it seems that Ocean Alley have been spending their downtime working on new music, emerging from the shadows with their latest effort, which captures their classic sound and mixes it with the sort of playful energy that seems to be in the pipeline for their next era.
“It’s exciting to have new music out,” explained Baden Donegal. “The more records we write, the more we can explore our sound and style, which is why they are ever-changing.
“‘Touch Back Down’ gives a much happier vibe than any single from Lonely Diamond and we’re definitely carrying that upbeat energy across our writing at the moment. It provides a pretty good insight into the feel we’re going for in terms of our next record.”
“It feels more playful than Lonely Diamond and we wanted it to be that way,” adds guitarist Mitch Galbraith. “After the craziness of the past two years, we wanted to be less serious and write songs that will get people moving rather than thinking.
“We felt that we could write music this time around that is less introspective and with a little more storytelling, so this is the first taste of that new direction.”
While Lonely Diamond did indeed feature a more introspective version of Ocean Alley at the forefront, this style of writing seemed to pay off, becoming the band’s highest-charting record when it debuted at #3 upon its release in June of 2020.
Though it remains to be seen whether this new, “less serious” direction will translate to the same sort of commercial success, it doesn’t seem to matter too much to Ocean Alley, who seem to be having the time of their collective lives on “Touch Back Down”.
Ocean Alley are also set to embark upon their long-delayed national tour in January, with new shows in the Gold and Sunshine Coasts added recently. Check out the full details below.
Ocean Alley’s “Touch Back Down” is out now.
Ocean Alley Australian Tour 2022
With special guests Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and Dulcie
Friday, January 21st, 2022 (Sold Out)
Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, WA
Wednesday, February 9th, 2022
Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD
Thursday, February 10th, 2022
Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, February 11th, 2022 (New Show)
NightQuarter, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Saturday, February 12th, 2022 (New Show)
HOTA, Gold Coast, QLD
Friday, February 18th, 2022 (Sold Out)
Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, NSW
Saturday, February 19th, 2022 (Sold Out)
Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, NSW
Sunday, February 20th, 2022 (Sold Out)
Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, NSW
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 (Sold Out)
John Cain Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Friday, February 25th, 2022 (Sold Out)
Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, SA
Saturday, February 26th, 2022
Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, SA
Tickets available through Ocean Alley’s website
