Oneida is more than just a musical project but a project born of multi-faceted creatives wearing multiple hats. Planting themselves deep within the foundations of the psych-rock world, Oneida’s ability to forge tracks originally written as melodic punk-inspired garage-rock tunes into experimental avant-garde projects is a skill they seem to have down to a T.
Over the years their music has continued to serve equally as a stoner’s paradise and as a stimulant for an impromptu acid or shroom trip. This Friday the group are bouncing back with their forthcoming album Expensive Air out via Joyful Noise Recordings. Shared as their seventeenth full-length release, you’d imagine with a discography this big, there’d be little left for them to cover, but somehow Expensive Air perfectly expands on the Oneida we’ve seen so far.
Having taken a temporary four-year hiatus to articulate the creative backbones of their critically acclaimed record Succes in 2022, Expensive Air follows up as an art-rock extension that features progressive chorus lines and darker storytelling.
Melancholic lead single ‘Here It Comes’ is an interesting nod towards what to expect throughout the album. Its indie-folk leaning tendencies, matched with the psychedelic music video, in many ways downplayed slightly some of the brilliance weaved throughout the album.
Despite this slightly unappealing debut single, the third track ‘La Plage’ redeems expectations. It stands out as an enjoyable explosion with looping adlibs, soaring chord progressions and chaotic keys. When you listen to it you’re instantly indulged in the frenzy of its quickfire pace and punky attitude – one of few themes spotted throughout the album.
Doubling down on this, ‘Stranger’ comes in full pelt with soaring guitars and high-pitched synths. This helter-skelter energy is another theme throughout. Singles such as album title track ‘Expensive Air’ and ‘Reason to Hide’ stick out as notable pleasers, while others such as ‘Salt’ and ‘Spill’ remain as unremarkable fillers.
Like most Oneida projects, Expensive Air started as a compilation of melodic rock tracks and over a period of time grew into a concoction of compelling experimental releases. Recorded in just three sessions in 2023 and finally mixed in February 2024, Expensive Air is a project that’s taken a little while to marinate. Its story expands on the journey and transitional creative period their last release embarked on, in a way that both compliments their past while not being afraid to introduce a slightly weirder path. As a band that’s known for their spontaneity and charisma on stage, if this new album tells us anything, it’s that it’s sure to go off in a live setting.
