I have often been a thrift store explorer. I buy lots of cheap things, some being of use and others of no use at all. I often end up purchasing lots of old cassettes for listening, sampling, recording and other reasons. However, sometimes you get a cassette that you just love even if you may not be able to find a use for it besides listening pleasure!
For about two months Dean Evenson’s “Ocean Dreams”, sat on the shelves of the Rural and Guadalupe Goodwill in Tempe, Arizona. I had seen it multiple times but hadn’t felt like taking a chance on it, until half off day when I picked up the chromium dioxide slam for a quarter.
After purchasing this 20-plus year old new-age beast, I popped it in my portable and went on a walk. It happened to be the sunniest day ever but somehow Evenson had me swimming in the ocean while walking on concrete. This tape is surreal and is about an hours worth of synth, flute, harp, waves, and dolphins. Like lots of other new age stuff, there are a ton of simulated strings and pads on this bad boy to create wild texture.
It’s easy to feel lost in Evenson’s atmospheres, as he relaxes you into the tidal wave so easily. I would recommend this for any day when it’s beautiful outside. Or that time right before you fall asleep. For a quarter Ocean Dreams is well worth buying, and for anyone who is into looping or sampling they could learn a thing or two from listening to this record. I just wanted to note that this is probably also one of the original seapunk albums.
