Oceanea - Single

I'm so pleased that Dolby is making new music. "Oceana" is absolutely entrancing. Can't wait for "Urbanoia".

Lush and moving, Oceanea is definitely one of Mr.Dolby's best songs. It's shimmering keyboards and haunting vocals also feat. Eddi Reader will leave you in tears.

The sound and feeling of this song are synonymous with the word sueno. It feels like floating on the waves of a sweet, surreal dream. Influences of Brian Eno are definitely apparent. I first heard this on the radio one Sunday morning while crossing the Golden Gate Bridge..truly phenomenal experience which is seldom received through mainstream radio. Not having heard from Thomas Dolby since the 80s, I was truly blown away. I want more just like this one!

Thomas Dolby has always been about re-inventing himself; the excitement of trying new directions rather than recycling old tricks. For those who only know him via "She Blinded Me With Science", these new songs may be odd; not the walls of electronics and samples that you would expect, but rather layered, deep, complex and beautiful SONGS, written with great care and a different view of the world than the young, mad scientist of the 80's, but no less compelling than his work back then. Dolby has always been about the song; take time to go back and listen to his older work, and you'll find all kinds of varied instrumentation and arrangements going on. It's always been there, and these new songs are the work of someone who is still deeply interested in discovering new musical ways to tell the stories he wants to share. If nothing else, buy this EP for the soaring, ethereal guest vocals of Eddi Reader on the title track. They, and the song, are transcendent. And this EP is just a taste of "A Map of the Floating City", Thomas Dolby's upcoming album, to be released later this summer. Well worth the wait!

Soothing - definitely not the Thomas Dolby from the '80s. Reminiscent of Peter Gabriel and David Gilmour. Thomas is maturing like a fine single malt scotch.

I've been a Dolby fan from way back so I was expecting to like his new stuff but I'm blown away by it. From the very first notes you know you're in a different musical world. A world of perfection, where beauty and sound are entwined and carry you away. There's not a note out of place. And it's equally emotionally beautiful. Oceanaea is an incredibly moving song, extrarodinary. There are very few people in a generation who can pull this off - come back from superstardom and retirement to be even better musically and lyrically than they were when they were big stars. Superb.