Ocie Elliott—Bungalow

Ocie Elliott, comprises of Jon Middleton and Sierra Lundy from Victoria, B.C., another band shining a spotlight on Canada and the wealth of incredible talent the country has to offer. This album is their second in 5 years, with the first being "In That Room" back in 2020.

I knew the instant "By the Way" started that this was right up my street, acoustic, upbeat, and bright. First came Jon’s vocals, which honestly would have been enough on their own, but when Sierra’s voice joined in, I knew this was something special. Perhaps even up there with The Weepies? Time will tell.

Two steps forward and one step back with "Feeling Fine". Not that this step back is a criticism, the previous track moved at an upbeat pace, while this one is slower and more measured, allowing the vocals space to settle and soothe.

"Younger Days" opens simply with acoustic guitar, providing a foundation for the storytelling. Jon and Sierra’s vocal styles are quite different but complement each other beautifully. Jon has a coarser tone, reminiscent of the lead singer of Mumford and Sons, while Sierra’s voice is softer, some times breathy, sometimes almost ethereal.

"Opening Night" gives Sierra the opportunity to take the lead on a track, and I have to admit, given my penchant for female vocalists, this dynamic works exceptionally well for me. Her voice carries a delicate strength, bringing a fresh perspective to the song and adding a contrast that elevates the interplay between her and Jon. It’s moments like this that highlight the versatility and emotional range of the duo.

There definitely seems to be a movement toward including instruments with a “lived-in” feel, highlighting the actual sound of each note. This is evident on "Rockland", where the piano that opens the track occasionally creaks and groans, giving it an intimate, almost live-recorded quality. Sierra takes the lead here, and the track is darker and slower than the previous slower songs. It is emotive, heartfelt, solemn, and undeniably beautiful and definitely my favourite track on the album.

The haunting beauty of the previous track gives way to "Wild Rose", a more conventional acoustic offering, but don’t let that sound dismissive. It’s upbeat, inviting, and immediately engaging, serving as another perfect vehicle to showcase the duo’s vocals in all their harmony and charm.

It's funny, when "Jobie's Song" started, hearing the piano, my first thought was of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed". While both could may be considered love songs, the latter is more looking back on love, filled with sadness and reflection.

The last track "Petals", is a piano instrumental, both sombre and reflective, but also maybe with a hint of optimism. It runs at just over 2 minutes, but in my head I keep turning it into something much longer, introducing an ever emotive cello, and then more strings and building to.. something. I can't picture it, but it's much bigger. Ah the power of music to inspire and let imaginations soar.

I alluded in the opening to maybe discovering Ocie Elliott and them being right up there with The Weepies, and that is most definitely the case. At the same time, they are clearly very different, carving out their own unique identity, distinct sound, musical voice, and signature style. Hopefully it's not another 5 years until the next release.