Monthly Archives: May 2021

Album Review – Dave Hjin “Live at the Forbidden Auditorium”

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Dave Hjin – Live at the Forbidden Auditorium

Cruising around the inter-webs last week I happened upon this recent release and gave the first two songs a quick listen.  They intrigued me and I searched out some information on Dave, learning that he is (or was?…maybe he graduated:) a student in the jazz studies program at Toronto’s Humber College.  As always, these kinds of folks intrigue me as I have had my own fun trying to explore music theory and the many mysteries of making good sounds.  It was then that I knew I had to hear this entire release…both for my own enjoyment and also education.  I figure if nothing else, hearing tunes put together by a legit music scholar could only be a good thing.  Here are my thoughts….

The first selection, “19.11.10” is the star of this record in my opinion.  There is something both triumphant and haunting about this song.  The music brings the high points (especially the drum line), carefully offset by the more melancholy lyrics.  I love the bass line that grinds along underneath and several unique sounds off the keys, random but appropriate.  The vocals take over a bit around 3:05 and provide an uplifting, if slightly chaotic, conclusion.  

“Pre and Post” follows this and starts in a fairly simple way before shifting tone at the 1:50 mark.  That change elevates the atmosphere of the music significantly while still leaving the straightforward lyrical structure running underneath.   Then, rather suddenly about 90 seconds later, everything changes again when the guitar sounds come in by themselves.  Some nice effects also provide literal howling instrumental sounds in this section.  The two parts of this track seem disparate to me although I figure I may be setting myself up for a music lecture…some connection that I do not understand.  I’ll happily take the lecture as a learning opportunity 🙂 

That selection is followed by “Like A Bull,” and I really like the synth melody here and there is a rather disconcerting Vox effect that lends a nice amount of depth to the atmosphere of this track.   This is the song on the album I am a little bit indifferent about although there is really something about the cacophony that begins around 2:55.   It is very interesting and I do like the guitar work in this section although you have to hunt to find it under the mix in some parts.  

Next up is “One Foot Above” which features a pulsing feedback effect over a booming monotone kick drum.  It works very well over simple yet elegant lyrics such as: “When do you think the world will end, when the water’s been dry for longer than we remember.”  I do feel that the middle part of this track goes on a little bit too long and loses some of its impact along the way.  There also is a vocal effect that I am not certain works well from the listener perspective anyway.  The upside of this middle part though it that it really builds some tension.  And that leads to the 4:30 mark.  The guitar here is terrific and releases all that built up suspense while some fantastic atmospheric effects really crash into you.  Around one minute of awesomeness follows ..and then this song once again gets a little bit strange.  

The penultimate offering is “Zalazac Sunca.”  There is, perhaps unsurprisingly given the title, something a little bit summery about this song.   It is simple and clean also and has a lilting sway to it that will leave you humming along long after you have stopped listening.  

The album finishes up with a demo track called “Folk Riff,” which is a simple but nicely put together piece of music.  I really like the track separation on the two guitar parts as it conveys a nice duality if you are listening closely.  Some additional background and atmosphere begins after the first two and a half minutes which expand the tone of this song beyond its simple, folksy beginning.

This is a really nice overall listen and I would definitely recommend checking it out.  The arrangements are so interesting and I am picking up nuances each time I give it another whirl.  If you are so inclined, pay attention to the layering within each song as there is some hidden gems to discover.  I also suspect there are some lessons in there …for me at least.

You can check out this and related music from David at his Bandcamp page https://davehjin.bandcamp.com.

Please remember to support your local music and artists – community is powerful.  

Album Review – DEHD “Water”

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DEHD – Water

Music Review 

Album Review – DEHD – “Water”

Sometimes I pause as I am flipping through my music collection, whether it be vinyls, CD’s, digital, etc and have the lucky pleasure of being reminded of a past sonic discovery.  My most recent happy moment came after I loaded “all songs” in my digital library and then flicked a finger across my trackpad several times, letting the selections scroll past like slot machine symbols.  The screen landed squarely on DEHD’s releases and most particularly their 2019 release “Water.”  So yes, we are going back in time for this one even though they do have a more recent, and very fine release, called “Flowers of Devotion.”   Backwards to a good memory…

The first time I heard a song off of this record it was “On My Side” and that song has remained a regular visitor to my listening experience, mostly via inclusion on several playlists.  It has a warm, familiar feeling when I hear it, one of those fuzzy songs from the past.  Even the disconcerting delivery of the lyric “time is on my side,”…works perfectly within the tonal structure of this track.    I have also often found myself thinking that this song would somehow have fit in perfectly on the “Pretty in Pink” soundtrack or maybe even “Sid & Nancy”…dated references I know but let me know what you think? 

Jumping back to the first track of the album, it leads off with “Wild,” a simple word that is conveyed repeatedly through the song over a demanding, almost breathless drum beat.   Next up is  “Lucky,” which has a simple, clean start with a nice melody and a notable, and I think very effective, vocal change at the end ….”I long to be, I long to be, I long to be lucky.”

The next track starts very abruptly and features one of my favorite lyrics from this album, “never looking back, oh my baby, a heart attack waits for me when I dream of days past.” That is just good writing if you ask me; stark, clear and evocative.  I also like the way the lyrical lines are layered over the guitars ..it is messy but really good.

This is followed by “Do You” and then “Wait,” which has a  unique combination of styles and swaying rhythms.  The punchy guitar on this one does the job of accentuating the lyrics very well.  The vocal differences also play off each other effectively in this composition.  The next track is “On My Side” (already discussed) and then “Sunbeat,” which has a cacophony of sounds that mix with a singular drum beat…and works so well in some odd, unexplainable way. 

Coming up next on this album is “Push the Crowd,” which has a happy-toned beat that is hiding a darker message.  There is also a secondary lyric that knocks around in the background, part of the time in sync with the main lyric and at other times different.  I have never quite puzzled out the entirety of that secondary piece which leaves me feeling a little short of understanding.  An ongoing mission for the future I guess…

The next three songs are; “Love Calls” (which is the only miss on this release for me as it seems detached and something with which I could not find a connection), “Lake” (I love the guitar in this one), and “Happy Again” (the second song I ever heard by DEHD and one that I believe is a great example of the style and sound for this band).

The next track is my favorite on this record.  “Long Way Home” has a bit of the Blasters wrapped up in it (especially in the guitar sound) and is stylistically different from the other songs on “Water”.”  The album then finishes up with the eponymous track which is classic DEHD and conveys that special combination of comfort and discord that for me is the foundation of what makes them unique.  Those two effects come in waves throughout the song as it switches tone and the simple drum underneath holds all of it together.

Overall, the is a great record and continues to have an impression on me much the same as it did when I first heard it – no one sounds like this band.  Their songs are mostly short, direct and have a tone and atmosphere that belongs solely to DEHD.

If you are so inclined, check out their music and info on their Bandcamp page https://dehdforever.bandcamp.com

And please remember to support your local artists and bands – community is powerful! 

Album Review – Citizen “Life In Your Glass World”

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Citizen – Life In Your Glass World

So, I was kicking around Bandcamp looking at Michigan artists and came across this album by Citizen.  I have to admit, I had not heard of them before despite what I later discovered were several very solid prior releases.   Having listened through a few times to this one, here are my thoughts …

They kick this off with “Death Dance Approximately”, which earns an immediate place on my list of fantastic song names.   Right at the beginning there is a very brief organ sound…which for some reason I think is great.  There are some tempo changes in this song that work really well and the drum is especially effective.  Listen to the lyrics also as they are notable.  One line that really caught me was,  “I beat myself down until I cave in, I will pry and I will claw just to be heard.”   It really evokes an internal struggle for me.  

The bare bones drums that are in “I Want to Kill You” are great as is the guitar work on this tune.  The beat here will certainly get you hopping along!  Listen for the unique guitar right around the 2:25 mark – fascinating.

“Blue Sunday,” provides a nice down-shift from the first two songs and the Vox effect here plays very well with the tone and message in the music.    There is really good atmosphere in this song and the cleaner guitar that comes in around 1:47 provides a good counter-punch to the other tones.

When “Thin Air” begins,  the few few seconds of it have my brain scrambling as it immediately brings to mind some other song…which as of this writing I have still failed to come up with.  That is not to cast any shadows here on Citizen, as the remainder of this song is all their own.  There is a lyric line within, “I remember when you used to say that it’s time that complicates you,” which really caught me and gave me something to ponder.. 

The next selection, “Call Your Bluff,” has a solid, quick beat at the beginning that really builds anticipation and is combined with some poignant lyrics to make this a strong part of the album.  I really liked the big sounds toward the end.

“Pedestal” is next, and all I can say is that …I really like the stark drum and the chanting lyric style…but the song kind of lost me along the way.  As per usual, that usually means I missed something and I hope that you can find it when you listen.  

You can definitely put on your dancing shoes (or boots…) for “Fight Beat” which has a great groove line right from the start and very interesting atmospherics.  It is followed by “Black and Red,” which is the only song on this record with which I could not find any connection.  On “Pedestal” I had the beat and style that I could hang onto but this selection left me behind completely.  When that happens I do try to figure out why and in this case I think it is the range of styles within the song.  Individually I like those pieces; however the arrangement here is just a little too chaotic for me. 

Next up is “Glass World.”  It has a great guitar sound at the beginning with a drum that cuts in between which really sets a solid foundation.  The pacing on this song, which is on the slower end for the record in general, is very effective in delivering the tone and mood.  That is followed by “Winter Buds” which, rather appropriately, has a melancholy ambiance and is lyrically very strong. 

A very effective and fitting end-cap for this release is provided by “Edge of the World.”  It has a driving beat that coveys an anxious energy throughout the middle part of the song. 

Overall, this an album worthy of a buy and much listening.   This band plays tight and brings a distinct style to this recording.  This is some combination of emo- dance and punk that is very effectively stitched together.  Although you can hear the various influences throughout, they blend them together well and make their own sound from those disparate pieces.  They also have a knack, even on slower paced songs, for providing a lingering dance beat just below the surface almost waiting to explode.  It does not always show itself, but it is there and gives you a sense of anticipation.  

You can check out info and music from Citizen on their Bandcamp page https://citizenmi.bandcamp.com

Please remember to support your local bands, musicians and artists – community is powerful!