About
Ocean Colour Scene first made a blip on the pop radar screen in the early 1990s at the height of the Manchester boom. On the heels of some spotty studio sessions and production troubles, the band released a few singles and a debut record marked by wah-wah pedal excursions and Simon Fowler's notably soulful croon. Meanwhile, the band were releasing b-sides that gave early warning to the Mod angle they would play up on their ensuing releases. When the band reemerged in 1996, it was under the wings of a revitalized Paul Weller and then-heirs to the throne Oasis. By this time, guitarist Steve Cradock had begun playing with Weller, adding fluid guitar work to tracks on Wild Wood and thereby leanding instant credibility to Ocean Colour Scene's neo-dad-rock/Mod releases. Although their following is not as solid in the U.S, they've managed to attract hordes of die-hards and turn on thousands of kids to the joys of both Steve Winwood and Greek fisherman's caps.
- Jon Pruett
