OBLIVION HYMNS

For nearly a first, as long as any Hammock record review figure on this site, (cheers to "Morsenator" who, having a different approach than mine, this being a very good thing, still invested good time to make them known to the happy few!) I've chosen "Oblivion hymns" to present my overall view of their "oeuvre". As i'm mainly french speaking, and doesn't feel nearly as fluent in english as i'd wish, you may find as many "french expression"s as your language of choice seems to allow. Hammock can conveniently be put in the "post rock" category, with the heavy weights, (Mogwai, Godspeed you..., ant other Explosions in the sky). Myself i'd like to open a "Music for the soul" category for them. In fact that's what they provide to me. Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson mainly use textural and processed guitars to create a tapestry of sound which is both soothing and quietly unsettling. One who takes a look at the song titles can't miss the overall feelings and impressions they wish to communicate, knowing that the music is mostly instrumental. Music for sorrow but still, after listening any of their records, you just feel uplifted.

I've discovered them with "Chasing After Shadows...Living with the Ghosts" their 2010's offering, and simply been hooked. Bought at once the following one "Departure songs" a double cd charged to the brim (any Hammock cd is good value as long as one talk about duration!), inspiration being, in my understanding, the matters of the loved ones gone, our own mortality, near death experiences or generation's transmission for good exemples, or, importantly, the capacity or audacity of letting go. Vast program you would say. But it truly seems to be their mission, and i can't chase the idea that they are like non religious angels offered to cure my sadness. Now, i'm not particuly depressive, reasonably happy and healthy for my old age (many prog fans on this site, by very definition , should reach their sixties pretty soon like me...) but i like to feel that as long as any Hammock music is available to me, nothing strongly wrong can happen to my sanity! This may put quite a pressure on their shoulders if they happen to read this, but in the same time they may feel rewarded because that's just the way they seem to interract with the listener.

I now have seven of their records and it can't seem to be enough. And even if a superficial first listening can give the impression that it's "du pareil au même" (just of the same if you wish), i just happen to wait eagerly for the next one. And still their sound has evolved. More keys nowadays, some rythmic patterns more or less present on others, "Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow" is related to an installation in direct link to Sigur Ros. And i'm quite found of the female voices and choir effects which are more and more part of the musical setting. So why Oblivion Hymns? Apart from being a convenient entry ticket resuming the whole discography, it may figure more of these female voices giving a more melodic and accessible side to the music. And the cover picture is simply striking! You can easily pass over it, thinking it's a kind of "fauvism" effect, but once you've caught it, you may feel like me that just staring at the picture may create a kind of spiritual experience.

My other reviews don't adress the record matters in any way like this one. Factuals or song by song descriptions, a prosaic look to the music i love, but in this case it just seems to be the music who loves me! Five stars is just in order to the "bien-être" effect they provide. Long life and afterlife to Hammock!