Echo & The Bunnymen – Ocean Rain

1984 Echo & The Bunnyment -Ocean Rain
A brief yet also sprawling masterpiece from the Bunnymen, presenting itself as a late sixties baroque pop album for the eighties. And it succeeds to well at that. Whilst my favorite album of theirs is Heaven Up Here, and I don't even think The Killing Moon is a top ten song for the band like most do, it's still a classic album because that's what it is: an album, an airtight collection of songs which fit perfectly into their respective places. The London Symphony Orchestra is featured prominently throughout, and the songs are also worthy of this lush treatment. It's hard to imagine "Nocturnal Me," "Silver," or the glorious title track without the strings. If nothing else, Ian McCulloch's vocals are pretty much flawless on this album, from croons to yelps. A must have.

awesome UK 1st pressing!!!! I own a 1984 U.S sire 1st pressing and has bad sibilance at end of album on each side. also same with last 1972 label -2011 re-issue as well and the 2021 re-master as well but i finally got my hands on OG 1st UK press and its amazing!!!!!!!! THIS IS THE COPY TO OWN HANDS DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0 sibilance at end of each side and huge soundstage and imaging compared to any other of the copies i mentioned above.

Their first four LP's are being reissued on limited edition coloured vinyl on 22 October 2021, available exclusively at the Dig! Store in the UK. Pre-orders available now.

Their Best Album without any doubt. Earlier fans don't agree because this album carried Echo at an (almost) mainstream level, so they don't want to accept this. Because they wanted to keep Echo as a their own musical sensation. Understandable. But music has no frontiers, so...no jealousies please.

Amazing album and one of the most incredible sounding pressings of this album I’ve ever heard. It has such a crisp sound.

Their best album. And Julian Cope is right, McCulloch is a cunt. For me it’s about the band, those three are the Bunnymen Pete you are sorely missed....

Album cover photo location = Carnglaze Caverns, Liskeard, Cornwall .

Fantastic music. On top of that, what astonishing sound of this LP. Excellent mix and EQ. Majestic. One of the best sounding records of my collection. 5 stars.

Such a shame that they decided not to include the rather excellent "Never Stop" single instead of the super awful "Thorn of Crowns": "Cu-cu-cu-cucumber, ca-ca-ca-cabbage, ca-ca-ca-cauliflower", a track so dire not even deserving to be an extra track on a 12" b-side, it destroys the flow and listening experience of the album as a whole.

The second side of the album is a good as Echo & The Bunnymen gets tough. Alongside the ace singles "The Killing Moon" and "Seven Seas" there is "My Kingdom" with its upbeat joyful guitar and bassline interplay, and then to finish it off, maybe their finest track ever: "Ocean Rain". A genius decision to employ real strings instead of tacky DX7's.