The Ocean have unveiled another preview of their forthcoming 12th studio album, ‘Solaris,’ with the German post-metal collective now streaming “Ultima Esperanza” alongside an expansive new music video.
The new track runs for more than 11 minutes, with the accompanying visual directed by Craig Murray. The clip also serves as something of a spiritual prequel to the band’s previously released “Light Pollution” music video.
‘Solaris’ draws inspiration from the 1972 science-fiction film of the same name directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, continuing The Ocean’s tradition of exploring expansive conceptual themes through their music.
“Ultima Esperanza,” which translates from Spanish to “last hope,” takes its name from a province in southern Chile and the nearby Última Esperanza Sound. The inlet was named by Spanish navigator Juan Ladrillero in 1557 as he hoped it would provide a route toward the Strait of Magellan. Instead, the passage leads toward a glacier and ultimately ends in a dead end.
A press release further explained:
“‘Ultima Esperanza’ (Spanish for ‘last hope’) is the name of the southernmost province on the South American continent, named after the inlet known as Última Esperanza Sound. The inlet was given its name by Spanish navigator Juan Ladrillero in 1557, who hoped it would offer a passage to the Strait of Magellan. Instead, it leads to a glacier — and ultimately, a dead end.”
The band described the song as an exploration of hope, resilience and the psychological process of continuing to search for an escape even when circumstances appear increasingly bleak:
“‘Ultima Esperanza’ explores the intrinsically human notion of hope as the driving force behind all explorative endeavours, and loss thereof. It is a reflection on mental resilience, tracing the different stages of losing hope and the mind’s remarkable tendency to keep projecting it even onto the most dire realities, as an instinctive means of survival.”
‘Solaris’ will also introduce listeners to the latest incarnation of The Ocean, with the current lineup featuring vocalists Enrico Tiberi (ex-EyeHate, etc.) and Lane Shi (Elizabeth Colour Wheel, Otay), alongside guitarists Emmanuel Jessua (Hypno5e) and Marco Gennaro.
“Ultima Esperanza” is now streaming alongside its new visual as The Ocean continue to roll out material from ‘Solaris.’
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