poppedmusic

The Hum

Released 10th November 2014

Words: Jimmy Gallagher

Forget the concept of the difficult second album cliche. Hookworms have picked up exactly where they left off with last years Pearl Mystic. The Hum, like its predecessor is a masterpiece.

I don’t know the process by which fellow writers review an album, it is probably along the same lines as how I do under normal circumstances, but with Hookworms the only thing to do is to clear the room of furniture and get ready to completely fucking ‘lose it’!

These lads from Leeds have cooked up a soup of drowsy psychedelia to feast upon with The Hum. It is a full body and mind experience utilising their giant live sound which makes you feel sorry for the poor folk who may live next to Hookworms’ practice rooms.

The Impasse strikes instantly just as Away/Towards did in Pearl Mystic. The song distorts and spirals out of control that never actually ceases to be in their grasp. It, like the entire album ahead, is a kaleidoscope of atmosphere in a steam room of reverb and synth but where the bass is the ringleader of festivities, domineering over each time signature and leading every rhythmic attack.

When watching Hookworms live, you immediately feel them as you hear them as if stepping off a plane in a tropical clime. This is communicated on record so seamlessly. The second track, On Leaving conjurs visions of Primal Scream in the Exterminator/Evil Heat era. That signature foundation of suffocating atmosphere on which the blocks of progress are teasingly stacked pave the way for improvised expression.

Like the superb Revelations by The Brian Jonestown Massacre this year, The Hum is a picture book of fairground memories effervescing in a haze of lucid doubt. The album is a mescaline infused cacophony through Beginners and onto the more tranquil Off Screen.

It could be that Hookworms vocalist ‘MJ’ articulates his lyrics as clearly as Dean Martin ever did but the dense bramble of emotive reverb and organ mesh the vocal as another instrumental layer in the sound construction. The architecture is proud and bold.

In a year so blessed with great music, Hum could just be the best yet.

Watch the video for On Leaving here: