Sometimes, in the middle of life, out of nowhere, random snapshots from the past pop into our minds. It could happen while walking, reading a book, or watching a view. For me, it usually happens when I’m coding or looking at a landscape. This time, while I was coding, a snapshot from more than 20 years ago came to mind.
I was a kid, maybe around ten. We had a music CD at home. This was the late ’90s or early 2000s, so we used Sony Walkmans to listen to music. I really liked that CD back then, but I couldn’t remember its name or the cover clearly, just some blurry fragments. A few words stuck in my mind: “Webb” and “Ocean.” These two were clear. I immediately started searching online, hoping to find a digital version. But the deeper I looked, the more surprising the result was: absolutely nothing. It was like the internet had forgotten it. Search engines only showed recent, popular content. It felt like they had erased the past.
I only found a couple of old sites that mentioned the album’s release year and the production company. At least that was something. The album came out in 1998, so I figured it wasn’t digitized because it never got enough attention, and that’s perfectly fine. The CD originated from Spain, which surprised me because the singer’s voice had an American accent (as far as I remember). That might be why my initial searches led nowhere. I was only looking for American or British artists.
I decided to email the production company I found, but I think I contacted the wrong one. They never replied. Maybe they had already shut down. Later, I discovered the album’s name: Broken Ocean. I searched for “Webb - Broken Ocean” online and, boom! Someone was selling a physical copy on eBay. I was over the moon. As soon as I saw the cover, I recognized it instantly. I ordered it right away.
Two weeks later, the CD arrived by post. It came from Spain. I was filled with a deep, nostalgic feeling. Opening that package made me feel like I was time-traveling.
There’s another piece I haven’t mentioned. A few weeks before I even thought about this album, my parents had sent some photos to our family WhatsApp group. They were doing some cleaning at the old house and shared pictures of things from our childhood. Among them was our old Walkman. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but I’m pretty sure that image triggered the memory. I used to listen to Webb with that exact Walkman.
A few days before the CD arrived, I asked my parents to bring me the Walkman, and they did. So, let’s jump to that moment. I was holding the CD in my hands, the Walkman in front of me. I carefully opened the lid, placed the CD inside, closed it, and hit play. It didn’t work. I tried again - still nothing. Turns out you had to hold the play button. And then… the sound. That was it. That’s what I had been looking for.
I was in a trance for the first five tracks. It was like a wave of emotions and memories flooding my brain. Of course, the Walkman is very old now, so the sound was full of static, but I didn’t care. In that moment, everything else faded away. I decided to digitize the tracks. I ordered an external CD-ROM right away.
While waiting for it to arrive, my sister called and invited us to her child’s first birthday. My wife and I said yes, and we flew from Istanbul to Antalya before the CD-ROM arrived.
We got there on April 30. After a big family breakfast, I showed my sister the CD. I asked her, “Do you remember this? We had it when we were kids.” She smiled and said, “I remember it clearly!” I didn’t expect that. Maybe the album pulled her briefly into the past too. I’m pretty sure she didn’t really listen to it back then, maybe just saw it around the house or heard me play it. I told her the whole story, and she listened with interest.
Later, after everyone had spread out around the house, my parents with the grandkids, my sister and wife chatting over coffee, and my brother-in-law out at work. I sat with my laptop and started digging deeper. On the back of the CD, I noticed two names: Oscar Palop and Jordi Mesia. I searched for them to see if they had done other music.
I couldn’t find much until I stumbled upon a Facebook profile for someone named Oscar Palop. Most of his posts were art-related: drawings, paintings, modern art. Nothing about music.
I almost gave up, thinking it wasn’t him. But then I saw a drawing in black and white, made of line figures. It looked exactly like the figures on the CD cover. I compared it right away and thought, if this Oscar Palop isn’t the Oscar Palop, then no one is. I might as well take my shot and reach out, what do I have to lose?
Luckily, his email was listed on his page. I attached a photo of the CD cover and wrote:
When I was a kid, there was a music CD in our home from Webb - Broken Ocean. When I searched online, I couldn’t find it. There is no digital version. I saw a name on the back of the CD - Oscar Palop. Is this you?
The next morning at 9:30, I got a reply. The whole conversation happened in Spanish (thanks, technology).
Oscar Palop:
Yes, Broken Ocean is indeed a ‘98 album, and my name is Oscar Palop. From what I understand, you’re probably from Turkey. I had a good friend in Istanbul, Ertugrul Sener. I don’t know if you have anything in common, but I’d like to know how you got the CD and if I can help you with anything. Best regards.
Me:
Hello again, yes, I’m reaching out from Istanbul, Turkey. I don’t know Ertugrul Sener, I’m Ertugrul Cetin. Is he a famous artist?
The Broken Ocean CD was in our old house when I was a child, and I loved it. I don’t know how it ended up in our home; I think it was more than 25 years ago, maybe in the early 2000s. In recent weeks, the CD came to my mind - I’m 33 now and for some reason, I started searching for it online. The only words I remembered were “Webb” and “Ocean.” By chance, someone in Spain was selling it in CD format, and I immediately ordered it on eBay. It arrived a few days ago, and I was so happy.
Then I found the names of the composers and creators in the CD booklet: Oscar Palop and Jordi Mesia. I couldn’t find much information online, so I reached out to ask if you were the one who made it, because it’s truly a beautiful album. If I’m not mistaken, you are the Oscar Palop mentioned, right?
Oscar Palop:
Yes, I’m Oscar Palop, composer of all the songs, singer, and keyboardist. Jordi Mesiá passed away about 10 years ago. We created Webb in the late 70s. From 82 to 87, Webb was a four-piece progressive rock band. We met and continued with Mesia (guitar and sound engineering expert) until 2015 when he fell ill.
Me:
I understand, thank you very much for the information. You truly made a beautiful album - it was way ahead of its time, real music. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. Are you still making music? I saw on your Facebook page that you’re more focused on art-related work now. Also, if you give me your permission, I’d love to digitize these songs from the CD and upload them somewhere like YouTube so they won’t be lost and can stay alive.
Oscar Palop:
Thank you for your kind words. I’ve composed a ton of music. Custom songs, wedding music, music for books and film projects, and songs as if the band still existed. I don’t mind if you upload the songs, although I have most of them digitized. All of them, even those not on Broken Ocean, are registered, as I’m a member of SGAE, the General Society of Spanish Authors. You can count on me for anything I can help you with. Music, along with painting and poetry, are my hobbies. My profession is Industrial Engineer. I remain at your disposal.
Me:
You’re very thoughtful, thank you so much. By the way, I’m also an industrial engineer, a nice coincidence. Although I work in tech. If you have digital versions of the songs from the Broken Ocean album, I’d love to receive them through a link. If not, I’ll buy an external CD reader and digitize them myself in the coming days.
Oscar Palop:
Well, I don’t have all the tracks on the CD, but almost all of them. I can send them to you via Gmail. I’ll tell you why each track has a reason, if it helps you post it on YouTube.
Me:
Sure, that would be great. You can send them to me via Gmail whenever you can, thank you so much!
Me:
Thank you very much, I have the songs. I just downloaded them from WeTransfer.
Oscar Palop:
I’ve been informed that you’ve downloaded the songs I sent you. As I mentioned, here’s a very brief explanation of what each one is about:
1. At the Threshold – I was at a decisive moment in choosing Zen philosophy once and for all.
2. Broken Ocean – The lyrics were written while returning from a trip to China, flying over the Gobi Desert. From the air, the desert feels like a broken ocean.
3. Drawn in my Heart – A song dedicated to a partner, who is now a great friend.
4. I Trust – About a person who is blind and hopes to see the light someday.
5. Prayer to the Wind – Lyrics about personal growth and finding oneself.
6. Shades of Hope – A true story about the disappearance of a girl named Mary and her father’s anguish as he searched for her.
7. Uncertain Fates – Dedicated to African peoples oppressed by corrupt politicians.
Still missing:
1. Wild Life – Dedicated to the Lakota (Sioux) people and their extermination.
2. Blue Glance Movie – A critique of our drummer’s wife.
3. Crazy – The crazy things you do that sometimes hurt people who leave you, and then you regret losing them.
4. Hot Rain – After many trips, the longing to return home, only to create more humanitarian songs and leave again.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Note: For any publication you make, please remember the copyright, as SGAE finds out everything.
Me:
It’s truly inspiring. There aren’t enough words to thank you for sharing the meaning behind your songs. There’s such interesting information. It’s a special feeling to be able to speak with a true artist. If you’d like, after I digitize the remaining tracks, I can send them to you as well. And don’t worry about the copyright. I just want these beautiful pieces to exist in digital format to preserve them. They can inspire and bring joy to others, just as they did to me.
10 Days later..
Me:
Hi Oscar, I recently got hold of the CD-ROM and converted the remaining 4 songs to digital format. I’ve created a YouTube playlist that includes all the tracks from the album. Under each video, I added the title, your name and Jordi Mesia’s, and the lyrics. Also, on the main page of the playlist, I listed the names of all the people mentioned in the album, exactly as they appear on the CD cover. Here’s the link to the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiDUKXlPu2kz_0ECW1dbL2EzJovkNTok3 Thank you so much for letting me upload the videos.
Thanks to all this, I got the chance to connect with someone who had touched lives through music and art. It was a short journey, but full of meaning, excitement, and nostalgia. In a time when everything moves so fast, this little pause reminded me how beautiful it is to revisit the past, even for just a moment.