Songwriter, singer, guitarist and all round mastermind Garrett Hobba
completed this album in South California while recuperating from a serious illness.
Leaving his damp Seattle home for sunnier climes in a fragile state may explain why he has difficulty summoning up enough energy to rock out.
As a result, a swirling Grandaddy-esque psychedelia mixed with the portent of Joy Division pervades the twelve languid tunes which never rise far above the level of what is described as a "sad euphoria".
On Here It Comes, Hobba sings "Whoa man this stuff's coming on so strong" which I took as a reference to his medication rather than the rock dynamics.
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The opening track, Golden Hour does at least this has a nice jangly beat to counteract the gloomy lyrics but the cumulative effect of songs weighed down by life's burdens gets a bit deadening.
Hobba recommends listening to the album on headphones, alone in the dark or lying on your back with a good friend and a bottle of opium.
Definitely not a party record.
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