I heard a little Half Moon Run in the songwriting style, a reminder that lyrics that come from somewhere real & thoughtful are often the most intriguing. The Hills and the Rivers are a superb band.
Music
Their experience is undeniable, you can hear it in how the song has been crafted, the poetic lyricism, the build-up, the fluidity. They work as a unit & give the music so much strength & colour.
This is alternative pop at its greatest. It has all the building blocks of a memorable hit, but it also has so much character & so much that is unpredictable.
It’s a beautifully performed piece of music, but it comes with such a bittersweet wave of feelings – all in all proving to be about as relevant to the sadness behind it as possible.
The unwavering rap flow featured on this release is incredible – the main take-away from listening & by far the one thing that takes you aback as the music plays out. This is hip hop story-telling at its best.
Showcasing Komie’s superb guitar playing, but more than this – creating around you a colourful, detailed, emotional soundscape, within which you can completely forget about your concerns for a while.
Markson has certainly found meaning in art by magnificently blending classical piano & new age electronica to create an eclectic sound for easy listening across all walks of life.
Stew has done well to capture the sound of the moment with this, as well as not overwhelming his audience with weight or multiple layers of volume, colour & detail. The space & the simple beauty of it are likely to appeal for their originality & how easy they are to take on.
The band create complex & provocative soundscapes around you, occasionally making you forget the instrumentation of it & consider this far more of a producer’s catalogue.
It’s a little like you’re meditating somewhere, surrounded by the noise & smoke of an industrial building site, having found your peace regardless but still unavoidably aware of the heaviness & tension nearby.
It feels like a totally natural progression for the band to take their music in this direction. The singer is fantastic, bringing the thick, powerful vocals of classic rock to a gentle & emotional soundscape.
Hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and endless hours in the studio are no doubt the unsung marks on Ms. Marie’s resume. The soul is apparent, the sound is impeccable, and Yona Marie is a master at the helm.