Oceans4 – Acta Non Verba (Album Review)

Today’s review features Oceans4’s new album “Acta Non Verba.” Oceans4  was created in 2010 and is the brainchild of Andrew Crook. Oceans4 has released several albums, including Dark Horse (2013), Emergence (2014), Inertia (2023), and both Postmodern and Daydreaming earlier this year (2025). Today’s reviewed album, Acta Non Verba, was released in 2022.

I previously reviewed Andrew’s work in the Oceans4 release Daydreaming and gave that single/album an outstanding rating, our highest rating. It was a 30-minute piece designed specifically for yoga and meditation.

So let’s have a listen …

The album starts with New Car – a driving keyboard riff that then falls into an ethereal soundscape, very slow. Then back to the main driving riff. This album is listed as Alternative Rock, but it’s really more Emo/EDM, at least this song.

The next track on the album is The Puzzle – another driving keyboard riff with a nice bass track underneath. Again, the track devolves into an ethereal emo soundscape. This is definitely EDM genre music.

Space Chill, the third song on the album, starts off with an ethereal landscape. Once the drums are added, the song begins to have more structure, but the drums dominate the sound. Very chill, emo, EDM. Some interesting, trippy soundscapes in this song. But nothing to hold on to.

Routine Check starts off with a pounding bass line, joined by horns, and a matching keyboard riff. Some interesting instrument choices in this piece. I do like it when the horns come in. The keyboards sound ghostly.

Alternate Reality kicks off with a rumbling sound, with a simple drone on top. Like an alien spaceship scene in a movie. All of a sudden, everything stops, and a driving bassline appears, with lots of keyboard riffage. This song makes me think of a futuristic space movie. I like the percussion towards the end. The piece is interesting due to its unusual sounds and sonic textures.

Procession, the sixth song on the album, begins with a very soft background-type of soundscape. Very ethereal and quiet. All of a sudden, a bass and keyboard kick in and become the dominant force of the song. Slow in their movement. But then a vibrato-style keyboard riff kicks in, then back into the bass/keyboard slow riff.

Empty Castle starts with a buzzing keyboard riff and a heavy thumping bassline. Very slow and somber, building up in volume as it goes forward, then fades into another landscape with slightly faster keyboards and bass. This piece is very futuristic. It reminds me of The Flaming Lips, less vocals.

Grower begins with a simple drum beat and a simple bass line thumping away. A keyboard enters to add a bit of melody on top. All of a sudden, the song turns into something else – quicker, faster, but not as dreamy. At times, there is a cacophony of strange sounds, most made with a keyboard. I’m really not liking the “ship’s horn” sound in this piece; it is killing the vibe for me. Towards the end, it loops back to the intro.

The Chase starts with drums and percussion leading the way. Very soft keyboard drone sounds on top of the beat, just dancing in and out over the percussion. Another EDM-type soundscape.

The final song on the album, Dirty, starts with another driving drum and percussion riff, with a keyboard playing a lilting melody on top. Very futuristic sounding – like it was written to be in a sci-fi movie.

Overall, the album sounds good in the way it was recorded, mixed, and mastered. No issues there. While the songs all had interesting moments, there is nothing truly memorable, catchy, or hooky in any of these songs.

SCORE/Good: Oceans4 delivers a futuristic soundscape with their album Acta Non Verba. If you’re into EDM with a future twist, you may want to pick this one up. Much love, Beth

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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