 July 23, 2007
ECSTATIC PEACE presents:
Hush Arbors self-titled
Release date: October 21, 2008
 Keith Wood, along with constant foil Leon Dufficy, is Hush Arbors, and while his self-titled Ecstatic Peace! debut is not his first album by any means - he's been at this almost ten years - it does provide the perfect introductory point to Hush Arbor's distinctive take on psych folk. Combining the pensive songwriting of John Phillips circa Wolfking, the plaintive honesty of Neil Young, and the fishtank-gazing cacophony of Six Organs of Admittance (Wood is a frequent collaborator), Wood writes classic-sounding songs that sound readymade for AM radio, circa 1968. These songs would play as comfortably over a scene from The Wonder Years as they would piping from a noxious chillout tent at Terrastock. There are songs here that resonate with the minor key melancholy of Bert Jansch or perhaps even Mark Kozelek, while others hint at a Wire subscriber's Siamese Dream, all propulsive rhythms and lysergic electric guitar. Some albums are 'growers' - not this one. While repeated listens reveal more and more details, as good albums should, this is also an album that commands immediate attention. Try to put it on in a crowded room - just try. You'll have a 'High-Fidelity-Beta-Band' scene on your hands within two minutes.
Hush Arbors self-titled
1. Water
2. Follow Closely
3. Rue Hollow
4. Gone
5. Bless You
6. Sand
7. The Light
8. Water II
All Songs By Keith Wood
All Instruments By Keith Wood & Leon Dufficy
Guitar Solo(S) On "Follow Closely" - Ben Chasny
Track 3 & 6 Recorded By Greg Hughes
All Other Tracks Recorded By Keith & Leon
| It was my friend Ben Chasny, of Six Organs of Admittance, who first mentioned Keith Wood and Hush Arbors to me a few years ago when he was considering setting up a record label. "This is the guy I am setting up my record label for--just so I can release his work. You should check him out and get to work with him. He's amazing" Anything Ben says is always worth listening to. He sent me some material by Hush Arbors and Ben was right. Keith Wood/Hush Arbors is a truly remarkable artist, whose songs, voice and guitar work all create some of the most haunting and powerful music I have ever heard. I don't know what else I can say beyond this: that Keith is one of the last unfound treasures of sound. Oh, yes, another thing--I asked him to join Current 93. Love from David Tibet/Current 93 |
Hush Arbors on Youtube
Out Now: Free Kitten, Tall Firs, Awesome Color, MV+EE CDR, Dylan Nyoukis and Jaap Blonk LP, Okkyung Lee LP
Coming Soon: Religious Knives, Menstruation Sisters LP, Servile Sect LP, and of course much more
| That's it for now. Thanks for the support. Tell us how we can help.
Andrew
andrew@ecstaticpeace.com
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© 2008 Ecstatic Peace, LLC
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