A fabulous record, overflowing with talent and vision.
A fabulous record, overflowing with talent and vision.
http://www.thrilljockey.com http://whitehillsmusic.blogspot.com
I’m a big fan of this band; they deal in redemptive, affirmative music. The template I suppose is stoner rock; with a twist that sets it apart. It’s loud, let me warn you; this is a very loud record in parts: the opener The Condition of Nothing, and closer, Hp-1 are complete blasts: I nearly fell of my seat with when the opening track hit its stride. As for Hp-1, it’s a divine mix of spacey Cosmic Jokers synths and mid-tempo, off the Richter-scale sludge-riffery that would have done Speed Glue & Shinki proud. It is also infused with a commitment to a message and world view that not many bands seem to have. Previous records have been overtly political and uncompromising and the sleeve notes on this one follow the same path. It’s good; it really is good to see a band with its vision and concerns in full harmony with the sounds they make.
White Hills walk the sonic path that lies between Hawkwind and Neu!, albeit with an arsenal of sounds that wasn’t available to either of those bands. Rather than go for the faithful replications (such a trap when people take on the Kraut-hippy-rock axis), White Hills seem to want to push the sonics further, and steer worship at this particular sonic altar away from a mere maintenance of the status quo. As a result the satisfying collages such as Movement or Monument, or the stoned processions of No Other Way and Upon Arrival remind one that using such a path can get you into new areas, such as Earthling Society, Cope, the Orb or Coldcut found out. Paradise might have that metronomic/motorik beat but it’s not a Neu! rip. It’s all a matter of headspace.
A fabulous record, overflowing with talent and vision.