Album review: OVERSIZE – Vital Signs

With just a couple of EPs under their belt, OVERSIZE have developed a confidently realised sonic identity. As they step up to full-length territory, album opener Stalling emphasises how deeply said sounds are embedded in the shoegaze scene of the early ‘90s. While its production values ground Vital Signs in the modern age, the shimmering guitars and immersive atmospherics recall dreamy predecessors like Slowdive and Ride, with Sam McCauley’s vocals nailing the introspective and understated melodies of the latter band’s Mark Gardener.

If that was all there was to OVERSIZE, we’d still be singing their praises, but other - and notably rockier - influences are a significant part of their appeal. Sometimes these touches creep in from the peripheries, as with the brief burst of noise that disrupts the sombre mood of Something Clean a minute in. Other songs are more prominently built on heavier foundations, like the Helmet-go-dreampop of The Incline, or recent single Fall Apart with its crunchy, Deftones-esque riffs. On that note, the closing title track captures the weird combination of woozy sensuality and weighty heft that characterises the Sacramento band at their best.

Another important skill demonstrated frequently on Vital Signs is an understanding of how to craft memorable tunes, most evident on live favourite Vacant – ironically a song about struggles with communication. The album’s lyrical themes centre on such troubled topics, but the musings on grief and isolation come cocooned in such a warm musical blanket that OVERSIZE never come across as mere miserabilists.

No need to check this lot’s vital signs then: this record is proof that everything is working exactly as it should.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Teenage Wrist, Slow Crush, Split Chain

Vital Signs is released on February 28 via SharpTone