There's something about Hammock's album 'Oblivion Hymns' that sinks its ethereal teeth into you and doesn't let go. Released in November 2013, this Nashville-based duo, Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson, known for their ambient post-rock soundscape, crafted an emotional landscape blending elegance with existential pondering. Meet them at the intersection where music becomes meditation, and ambient hum floats you away from the mundanity of daily news cycles.
You might wonder why a blog that voices cautious sentiment towards cultural shifts is oddly intrigued by an ambient album. The answer lies beyond political borders to a place where one finds authenticity in expression. With no political bias sabotaging the ingenuity of 'Oblivion Hymns,' we witness art as it was meant to be—untainted by unnecessary ideological trench wars.
Here’s how this artistic gem unfolds its magic. First up is their track called 'My Mind Was a Fog… My Heart Became a Bomb'—a title that makes you think a little deeper, doesn't it? With this story, Byrd and Thompson take you on a sonic journey that rejuvenates your connection to what’s essential in life. When you're bombarded by the chaos of shifting morality in today's world, sometimes a break with something meditative and soulful like this is precisely what is needed. Hammock's artistry doesn't force you into any pigeonhole. Instead, it lets you float freely, almost as if you're untethered from the discord of today's society.
'Oblivion Hymns' isn't just an album; it's a declaration from Byrd and Thompson stating that music is not supposed to preach but to elevate. The name 'Hammock' itself—symbolizing rest and retreat—is a perfect metaphor for what this album provides: a listen without the perpetual megaphone of social agendas. Resting in the gentle arms of long, stretched-out notes and drones, you find beauty in the silence.
Soundscapes like 'Then The Quiet Explosion' remind us that contemplation is not our enemy. Perhaps in the modern age, there's a greater danger in the absence of reflection. And that’s where the genius of Hammock lies. It's music for thinkers. It's an escape, but not from reality—instead, it's an escape into understanding. 'Oblivion Hymns' crafts moments of serene bliss in a time when quick consumption and instant gratification dominate attention spans.
Now, don't get fooled. While some art is desperately wielded to sway public sentiment or manipulate feelings, Hammock opts for a more subtle approach. Their craft encourages introspection rather than indoctrination. The inclusion of children's choirs, combined with lush layers of sound, imparts an innocence and purity that washes over listeners like a gentle tide.
Then there’s the track 'Turning into Tiny Particles… Floating Through Empty Space', a thematic complement to contemplating the world's grand scheme. It's not about making musical statements to push political agendas. Instead, Hammock embraces a celestial perspective where politics seem comically small.
Hammock’s sixth studio album is a testament to their prowess as pioneers in creating atmospheric compositions that straddle the thin line between music and mythos. It’s listening that demands patience, something we're in short supply of as we rush through life. It encourages us to pause in a world where everyone and everything moves too fast.
Through complex layering and dynamic instrumentation, 'Oblivion Hymns' becomes an extraordinary bouquet of sentiment. Each track is a lifeline back to humanity when we're overwhelmed by what the future holds. Who knew drifting into oblivion could feel so enlightening?
Choosing to focus on the transformative power of sound rather than the divisiveness of rhetoric, Byrd and Thompson quietly reshape perspectives. While 'Oblivion Hymns' isn't an overt political statement, its refusal to play politics is its charm and strength.
So, next time you're browsing for something that nourishes the soul and ignites quiet moments of reflection, 'Oblivion Hymns' might be just the ticket. It's a trip back to an understanding that before we were divided by changing tides, we were united by simple truths—art being one of them.