2005 ¬ mourir c'est facile / tvhh siamese shirt / adcouvrir absolument comp 8
2004 ¬ adcouvrir absolument comp 5 / * sign language ep
2003 ¬ *washing songs ep / ps 1 comp / *tvhh hash mark shirt
*sold out
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*sold out
twelve. fifteen. three.
featuring: "that look" / "bed turned down" / "ex adult" / "washing song"
DOA - The Golden, Colorado band The Very Hush Hush has a style of music that’s at once a familiar blend of shoegazer rock and an extremely unique blend of avant-garde pop on this, the band’s first release. An intriguing mix of electronics, layering, vocal effects, and rock instrumentation somehow convey a not only hushed feeling but one of warmth, comfort, and yet just enough feeling to keep you awake, to keep you listening for what’s going to happen next. I highly recommend turning up the volume as the first gorgeous sounds of “That Look” come in. Lush guitars, angelic vocals, snippets of audio recordings, and light percussion all mix in this wonderful song. This is clearly the album’s highlight, and it’s worth repeating all on its own. After the very electronic beginning to “Bed Turned Down,” soft piano and drums come in, and the song takes a decidedly more mellow approach. It’s dreamy, the vocals mixing with the instruments beautifully. It also flows nicely into the more Mogwai-esque “Ex Adult,” perhaps the most lush track here and also the one that makes best use of the band’s reverb-laden, dreamy vocals. The almost-instrumental “Washing Song” has an even better intro, building up on perfect percussion and keyboards and mixing in more electronic samples. Then there’s the apparently untitled fifth track, a very mellow, moody affair with more focus on vocals (although they’re still a bit tough to decipher) and keys, but still with some nice layered washes of sound. The closing to this song may just be the most beautiful moment on the whole release. There’s only four songs here, and it’s not nearly enough, but the band is hard at work on its debut full-length Mourir C’est Facile. I expect to hear the band moving in an even more unique directly, as evidenced on songs like “Bed Turned Down.” These are clearly talented artists with an intriguing approach, and I can’t wait to hear more.
- Jeff Marsh, 8/17/2004
