Recorded live off-the-floor at The Sugar Shack in London, “Oblivion” marks a subtle but telling pivot for Toronto psychedelic art-rock band 5th PROJEKT. Originally appearing on their debut album Circadian, the track is reintroduced here as the first glimpse of Live In London, an upcoming EP that trades studio precision for something more exposed and ritualistic.
The live setting strips the song down to its core tensions. Where the studio version leans into atmosphere through layering, this reimagined take unfolds patiently, allowing space to do the work. A slow-burn introduction draws the listener in gradually, hovering just long enough to feel uneasy before the song locks into its hypnotic groove. It’s less about immediacy than immersion, a choice that suits a band clearly interested in mood over momentum.
At the center of “Oblivion” is Tara Rice’s voice, which moves with a measured restraint that feels almost ceremonial. Her vocals drift rather than dominate, threading through arpeggiated guitar lines that rise and fall like incantations. The rhythm section keeps the song tethered to the ground: David Pake’s drums settle into a deep, unhurried pulse, while Peter Broadley’s bass provides a steady gravitational pull. Sködt McNalty’s ambient guitar textures hover at the edges, stretching the track outward without overwhelming its skeletal structure.
Genre-wise, “Oblivion” exists in a liminal space. Its DNA pulls from dark trip-hop and gothic rock, but the band resists the temptation to fully commit to either. Instead, the song thrives in the in-between, where repetition becomes a tool for tension rather than release. The live recording amplifies this effect, capturing the subtle push and pull between the musicians as the track slowly reveals itself.
As a first offering from Live In London, “Oblivion” sets expectations not through spectacle but through intent. It suggests a project focused on presence, on documenting a band in the act of becoming rather than polishing a finished product. For 5th PROJEKT, the song feels less like a single meant to announce a release and more like an invitation, one that asks the listener to step inside the atmosphere and stay awhile.
Featured Image: Artist Supplied
