Monday, June 25, 2012

Wintersleep - "Hello Hum"



Artist: Wintersleep
Album: Hello Hum
Label: Roll Call Records
Release Date: June 12th, 2012
Review by: Sean Kayden

            Canadian indie rock aficionados, Wintersleep, have released their fifth studio LP, “Hello Hum”.  In the grand scheme of things, to call the former Juno Awards recipients of the “Best New Group Of The Year” merely an indie rock band would be a misconception. They’ve dabbled with hardcore guitars, synth pop, and experimental art rock in the past and present. Given the music they create, it comes with the territory for Wintersleep to have been compared to numerous bigger acts such as Fleet Foxes, The National and small traces in the vocal department resembling Paul Banks of Interpol. However, at the end of the day and all comparisons aside, Wintersleep possess a distinguishing and authentic sound. It may not always resonate with the listener, but will have them overwhelmed with their emotive form of artistry.
            Paul Murphy is a vivid storyteller with vocals of solace, but some of Wintersleep’s songs take awhile to get rolling. You can’t simply base judgment on a track without giving it a listen entirely through. Most songs here will take you on a joyous ride or have one become utterly lost in reverie. “Hello Hum” is irrefutably the group’s most experimental record. The record kicks off with “Hum,” a heavy synth track with this sort of rattling and crashing background noise in the beginning that gently eases into this stunning, romantic opening track. On track two, “In Came The Flood,” is where the real magic comes alive. If any song is going to put Wintersleep on the map, this is it. It’s an alternative radio friendly song, but not derivative by any means.  It’s a rapturous, full of energy song with a multitude of layered guitars riffs. It’s the clear-cut winner for the best song off “Hello Hum”. “Resuscitate” is a close second. The aforementioned song is a lively, bouncy tune that’s a rush of blood straight to your head. I find that with the music from Wintersleep, you don’t reflect but believe—believe in the endless possibilities of your own conquests.
             However, things aren’t always copacetic. There are a few tunes that aren’t bad per se, but rather middling for the band’s fifth album. One that comes in mind immediately is “Permanent Sigh”.  It’s a sporadic tune that sounds peaceful at times, but is mediocre during most of its duration. The surprise treat off the album comes in the form of “Someone, Somewhere”—a beautifully written and performed song that puts the active listener in a world of utter bliss. The hidden gem though is “Saving Song”. The song is a soft, tender, and unexpected slowdown halfway through the album. It definitely gives the album more scope and validates Wintersleep’s boundless talents. When the dust settles, a few songs here don’t accomplish much, but for rest of the journey, it’s a pretty worthwhile expedition. 

Key Tracks: “Hum”, “In Came The Flood”, “Resuscitate”, “Saving Song”
7.5 out of 10

Published by Mountain Views News on June 23rd, 2012
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/n25/p10.htm

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