Olde Worlde is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist, Sohhei Numata, born in Machida, Tokyo. Olde Worlde releases its new album The Blue Musk-Oxen, recorded, produced and mixed by Brad Wood (The Smashing Pumpkins, Ben Lee, Sunny Day Real Estate, Tortoise). The album features the current single 'Stuck In Hibernation'...

The Blue Musk-Oxen is an indie album that packs quite a punch. Over the course of this LP's 12 tracks (43 min, 14 sec) I was reminded of the work of Chicago (vocally on 'Wishing You Well' and 'Be Alone'); and Owl City ('Thinking About You', 'Beating' and 'Be Alone').

From track to track everything is drastically different, this is no churned out manufactured rubbish, the eleven songs here are all lovingly crafted pieces of art. There's a melancholic side to the tracks - but it's still mainly an upbeat album that deserves to be played loud in your car with the roof down, as you catch the last rays of summer.

If I had to pick out highlights, I'd have to go with the acoustic, retro sound of 'Lemon Lake'; the boppy feel-good vibe that is at the heart of 'Beating'; and the '90s indie feel of 'Good Boy'.

I've been listening to this almost non-stop for over a week, and still every time certain tracks start I get a thrill. I rarely experience this feeling when listening to new bands these days, so I'm hoping that this is a sign that the band will be universally accepted by the public. If there is anyone out there with any musical taste left alive... then Olde Worlde are destined to become huge.

10

Nick Smithson