tidal tunes

Portisheads Third was one of our favourite albums of last year,
but to curb the January blues weve swapped in a lighter sound from
another flaxen-haired female backed by blokes.

Vancouvers Hey
Ocean! mixes beach pop with funk and jazz undercurrents to aural
pleasing effect. True indie spirits, they formed a label to release
their own albums. Their latest, Its Easier To Be Somebody Else,
is a little Jack Johnson, a little Jason Mraz, with the welcome addition
of an Esthero-esque songstress of soul.

We hear the group, who has opened for Sarah Harmer and Bedouin
Soundclash, gives a live show that positively charms, so be sure to
catch them when they play Richard’s on Richards on January 22 (tickets,
$15). Coaxing fellow concertgoers to do the wave would be oh so
apropos.

Its Easier To Be Somebody Else ($14.99) at HMV.

Sample music at www.myspace.com/heyocean