Bracken
Heathens

A Norman Records recommendation (12th November 2006)

Cover art for Heathens by Bracken Description: US heavy vinyl 12" on Anticon (Chris Adams from Hood!!)
Format: 12" (vinyl)
Genre(s): Experimental Indie
Label: Anticon
Price:
£7.79
Availability: Sold out / currently unavailable. Sorry!

5Rating: 5
...according to our on 12 November 2006.


It's no secret that we're fans of Hood here. In between albums they're doing the whole solo projects thing and the one they call Chris has a 12" out (album to follow in January)  under the guise of BRACKEN. Bang it on the record deck and immediately you're hooked. Possibly because of Chris's vocals you can't but help think it sounds like Hood. There's plenty going on in background as well and I can hear lots of Daedelus and possibly some Prefuse 73 in there. Tis poppy 'n all..... and well catchy..... By far the best thing we've heard on Anticon in ages and if you're a fan of Hood you're gonna want this. It's truly excellent! As is the bonus 2 track CD which is exclusive to us which features an instrumental version and a well grimey Downpour remix of the lead track (NOW SOLD OUT). Did I say there was a Why & Alias mix on there too?? Oh sooooo many reasons to buy this baby....Phil xx

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What their label says...

The stunning debut release from BRACKEN (aka CHRIS ADAMS of HOOD) is a boldly ambitious and frighteningly successful burst of song. Opening with a lone, ethereal voice, the title track soon catches melody and bounces down a hallway of deep, dub bump. The vocals ride a stuttering wave of reverb (la Prefuse 73) as an errant horn squeals in the background. Guitar notes coil around a melody that might recall Phoenix's "Too Young" were it not for the heavy space it occupies. Adams seemingly sings of paranoia and pain-his ghostly call trying to break into an unknown reality where freedom of belief is more than just a theory. "Heathens" teems with sound, flitting adroitly between weighty moments and fluid movement. It's pure experimentation but feels instantly familiar-a perfect Anticon outing. Also includes a redone version of HEATHENS by ALIEA and WHY?, as well as the B-side cut , "We Cut the Tapes and Scatter," six urgent minutes of tape-cutting and metallic bird-chirping, with guitars that sound like strings and strings that sound like voices. The final track, "Out," is a short and fitting send-off from this impressive debut. Consider it a long-distance hello from the soon-to-come full-length. Limited to 1,000 copies.