The Hush Now "The Hush Now" (Independent, 2008)

Gazing at the shoes, headed for the stars

So, if Elliot Smith had ever once thought “...okay, nuts to all this folky whimsy stuff, I want to join My Bloody Valentine, if that's okay with you...” he may have sounded something as good as The Hush Now’s debut long player. For these Bostonians shares much of Smith’s lightness of touch in the vocals and meandering dream-like melodies, coupled with a great band who know a trick or two about crafting wonderfully noisy, densely urgent yet controlled pop sound-scapes. Occupying the tougher, atmospheric and ambient rock side of the sonic spectrum, the band's debut is a tour de force of sharply executed modern rock, with an incisive pop sensibility. Among the many highlights, "Pining", a seemingly unabashed love song, mixes 10cc "I’m Not in Love" vocal effects, hypnotic guitar figures, and then enough snarling atmosphere and melody to craft one of the album’s best moments. "Traditions" rattles along like …Trail of Dead experiencing a caffeine rush, its “..sit down and shut up..” chorus’ cloaking some intrigue and bitterness amongst its superbly rousing atmosphere. Elsewhere, "Ashes" sounds like The Cure covering Burt Bacharach at the wrong speed and is every bit as brilliant as that sounds. While "Hiding in Corners" provides the textbook bombastic finale, and actually not for the first time during the album, sounds quite a lot like much-missed UK FX-pedal botherers My Vitriol.

It’s rare for an album to unrelentingly crackle along with such thrilling pace with a vibrancy and quality that never lets up. Produced wonderfully (by David Newton of Mighty Lemon Drops), with a snappy bite and powerful clarity, this debut is deserving of some rabid, adoring attention. "The Hush Now" is clearly a triumph of an album.

Date review added:  Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Reviewer:  Ian Fildes
Reviewers Rating:
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