Tom Leclerc, East of Oceans, DNGLS

I have already proclaimed on more than one occasion that it is impossible to keep up with the output of Brock Van Wey. This prolific electronic musician dabbles not only in gorgeous ambiance and emotional electronica but also in soundtracks, deep house, and much more. Just today, I was trying to absorb the latest album by bvdub titled Farewell, released on Silent Reign – yet another outlet for Brock’s relentless output. The most “annoying” thing for me is that I truly think that it’s all great. So how do I pick a favourite, or highlight an album in this column that I think you should pick up? Thankfully [for me], this write-up is not about bvdub. It’s not even about his other moniker, Earth House Hold. Today we’re spending time with East Of Oceans – a somewhat elusive project that surfaces every few years (as opposed to every month). The thing with Brock is — if you know, you know — it doesn’t matter whether he changes the genre, or the bpm, throws in some vocals or some beats. At the heart of each piece is still that person that I know on the inside, even with all of his imposing looks [tattoos and all] on the outside. Yes, as Brock writes on his Bandcamp, there is plenty of pure happiness, pure joy, and pure everything all at once. But even as he attempts to throw at me everything that could possibly encompass this fantastic artist, all of the insane, overclocked, and broken rhythms, all of the deep, rumbling, and distorted basslines, all of the distant chords, jumbled up lyrics, and sped-up loops, with tracks that scream for my attention with their everything and all at once, beneath the thick sonic layers, beneath the twitchy grime and face-planted slab of sound, it’s still profoundly touching, very much vulnerable, and maybe even sad. And that’s what Ride or Die is all about. At least for me…