Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

The Holy Hecks! - The Holy Hecks!

7/31/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Holy Hecks!

The Holy Hecks!
self-released; 2015

3.7 out of 5

By J Simpson
The Holy Hecks, the self-titled debut EP from the Los Angeles quartet, has a bubblegum pop soul, but rolled in soot and iron filings. It's like a strawberry milkshake, shared with your sweetie, laced with a dash of balsamic vinaigrette.

The Holy Hecks is built around the brain trust of Johaina and Elias Crabtree, on lead and rhythm guitar, respectively. Their garage-y psychedelia is fleshed out by Andrew Anderson on bass and Robert Perez on drums. The guitars favor a late-night, shivering, reverb-laden rockabilly romantic sound, with occasional forays into post-punk psychedelia, with gloopy gelatinous flange, as on album opener "Aubade".

The saccharine outweighs the strychnine, from here on out, as The Holy Hecks! venture into slow and moody late-night terrain, a la Mazzy Star or Beach House, on "Aubade", which also features some tasty lead licks from Elias, and some tasteful vocal harmonies that really flesh out the sound and bring it to life.


The Holy Hecks! debut EP is a recorded approximation of their live sound, with only some keyboard overdubs from sound engineer James Haworth. The EP was captured with rough and ready equipment, and heavily compressed, throughout the recording process. This results in a raw, 4-track sound that places this EP more in the 'lo-fi' or 'experimental' camp. But everyone knows most notable records are leaking out of basements and garages these days. If you're looking for radio-ready commercial fare, go watch a commercial.

The Holy Hecks! manage to convey the multiple layers of life in Southern California. Their debut EP is infused with sand and dust; you can practically smell the mesquite, and feel the beating Death Valley sun on your forehead. They also capture the innocence and freedom of the '50s/'60s youth culture paradise.

Think The Handsome Family's soundtrack for the first season of True Detective blended with Brian Wilson's agoraphobic meltdown. They transmit the complexity of living in a place and being young. It's complicated, but the enjoyment of this music is simple and sweet.
soundcloud
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact