Hovvdy
April 26, 2024
Web Exclusive
A double album carries harsh connotations, an inescapable gravity of intent. A self-titled double album adds fuel to the fire. it's an unmistakable statement, a neon framing of a record as a defining artistic moment. That Texas slow-pop practitioners Hovvdy took this leap on their new release may initially come as a surprise, but the extended format suits them. Their hushed, intimate narrative gives them the space they need to slowly relax and cast a quiet spell.
Charlie Martin and Will Taylor perfected a certain mood on Hovvdy's previous four albums, a hazy dream state of youthful longing and fading memory. The same rich atmosphere is created Hovvdy, but the record is an extension of the band's aesthetic, a broadening of scope that matches the evolving complexity of their lives. For starters, they no longer live in the same state (Taylor is based in Nashville and Martin is based in St. Louis), and Taylor is a father now, with the accompanying changed perspective that parenthood inevitably brings. Defining experiences are recognized for what they are here. the loss of a grandfather (“Make Ya Proud”), the sadness of love taken for granted (beautiful album closer “A Little”) and delivered with a clear eye.
The record was co-produced by the band with frequent collaborators Andrew Sarlo and Bennett Littlejohn, and the group explores a spectrum of subtle extremes. The lively, spacious sound of tracks like “Make Ya Proud” and “Meant” convey an immediacy that was sometimes missing from the band's previous work, which often sounded like it was refracted through a dusty lens. At the other end of the spectrum is the revealing snapshot of a song like “Angel,” where Martin's vocals float against the soft backdrop of a running creek, or the programmed minimalism of “Every Exchange,” which sounds like a futuristic lullaby.
If you're occasionally craving something out of the ordinary in these 19 songs, the sonic equivalent of a mental break to disrupt the steady tepid mood, you inevitably fall back to the fluid warmth of Martin and Taylor. Their transition into marked adult territory still sounds remarkably peaceful. (www.hovvdy.com)
Author Rating: 7/10
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