GRAND BLUE HERON – Hatch
aaamusic | On 25, Jan 2016
Hatch is a debut album for the Belgian band Grand Blue Heron, which was formed two years ago. Nevertheless, the band members are not newcomers in the music industry: each of them was involved into different music projects for more than decade.
To some extent, Hatch inherits the previous music experience of its four contributors. This release has elements of alternative rock, shoegaze and indie served in well-balanced proportions. Hatch boasts a firm guitar sound containing a healthy dose of mutilation, confident vocals and an overall atmosphere of pure drive.
The opening track ‘Call the Shots’ is based on energetic pulsating rhythm and loud guitar sound. The same vibrant mood continues in the following ‘Velvet Slap’. Rock-n-roll riffs take turns here with distorted guitars putting this track on the verge between rockabilly and grunge.
Another notable track from Hatch bears a controversial name ‘Gay Is the Lord’. This one is a hazy meditative preaching that takes turns with buzzing guitar solos. ‘Tin Soldier’ bows to the guitar sound of 70s – straightforward and powerful; and so does ‘AddicTed, giving even more space to these nostalgic sonics. The final track has a no-surprise title ‘Last Song’. Here the pressure of rhythm is just a bit decreased and the sound becomes soothingly laid-back.
This debut album was recorded and produced by Grand Blue Heron’s Paul Lamont, Olivier Wychuyse, Pedro Demeulenaere and Arthur Verschaeve at their own studio. Mastering of all the ten tracks from Hatch was done by Ipressrecord studio in the US. The album was released on vinyl and download via Jezus Factory Records and distributed via Shellshock in the UK. In Benelux the album is available via Sonic Rendezvous.
Following the release of the album, Grand Blue Heron have few shows in Belgium and France at the beginning of this year. After that there will come an opportunity to see the band live during one of their UK shows, so make sure not to miss them. True revelation for the fans of sincere alternative sound from the rainy heart of Europe.
