Monday, November 28, 2005
windy night stroll
Just got back from my evening stroll. The wind was really blowing--limbs cracking--leaves flying--shadows flickering and Roger Eno at Lincoln Cathedral was playing on my IPod. I usually go out for a walk around 11:15PM and get back around midnight. It's great to see the twinkle of Christmas lights again. I love the atmosphere and moodiness they seem to create. I started thinking about how many of you have told us that our music seems to go well with the winter time. I agree... Personally, I like the winter season. I love it when the air is cold and crisp. That's why It saddens me to say that we may not have the new Hammock full length done before the end of winter. This bums me out because the only time I ever listen to anything I've worked on is during the winter time when the sky is wide open and stars look like ice sickles. In the meantime we're trying to set up the download portion of our sites. We will definitely have some material to download that won't be on any of our future full lengths or EP's. Stay posted as usual. Oh and everyone needs to get "Pop Ambient 2006" on (Kompakt). Beautiful! And for all you drone heads out there check out the compilation called "The Walls are Whispering." Sleep tight!
thanks for listening,
Marc
Posted By Hammock Music at 1:21 AM
Monday, November 21, 2005
sound clips
For anyone interested in hearing sound clips of the Sleepover Series you can go to www.hammockmusic.com. That's where you can find audio samples of everyhting we've done so far...
Marc
Posted By Hammock Music at 5:23 PM
Reviews, Reviews, Reviews
KENOTIC
"expansive instrumental music, with swirling, dreamlike soundscapes and immense waves of cascading, effects-laden guitars" Mark Suppanz, The Big Takeover
"The dichotomies of their aggressively ambient sound suggest a similar range of emotions...slap on the headphones and drift through Hammock low key and gorgeous travelogue."
Brian Baker, Amplifier Magazine
"Astounding album which will be listened to for years to come. My only wish is that it was a 4-CD boxed set!"
Thom Brennan, recording artist
"...the 16-track CD features some amazing guitar work that echoes the spirit of Robert Fripp at his most sublime."
Robert Silverstein MWE 3000
"The disc may well be the best-ever soundtrack for driving across this country's midsection." Sean Sullivan, Splendid
"Hammock are a lush ambient take on the shoegaze era of the early 90's, sweeping layers of disembodied textured guitars that seem to drift lazily across the audio horizon and then peel away. It's wide-screen listening where ever space is filled with ethereal atmospheres." Bob Baker Fish--Cyclic Defrost
"Kenotic beckons you to dive into dark waters, but once you choose to float with it, prepare to be enveloped by its melancholy beauty." --Mike G, Ultima Thule
"Byrd and Thompson are special visionaries and highly skilled at the craft of making music. This is not simple drone music; it's complex,sophisticated, and dense, but it's also not alienating, pseudo-intellectual, or moribund... Hammock make music that is filled with human emotion and passion... Kenotic is a voyage into the musical spectrums of a sepia-toned world, where subtle differences distinguish joy from sadness, wonder from despair, and resilience from resolve. Barren but not bare, sad but not disheartening, this album speaks its truth plainly..."
Bill Binkleman, Wind and Wire
"...a slow motion swirl and idyllic charm and texture..." --
Mark Teppo, Igloo Magazine
"I feel sure that Kenotic will make my top ten list of albums heard in 2005!" --Dene Bebbington, Wind and Wire
"This album is the most relaxing, engagingly beautiful, deep merlot wine music I've heard recently..." Jewels, JIVE Magazine
"Hammock is a blindingly brilliant new talent, and Kenotic is a new way forward for post-rock." --Castor Quinn, Halo 17
STRANDED UNDER ENDLESS SKY
"a perfect combination of the swirling, amorphous beauty of ambient music and the passionate pulse of electronica.[Hammock] prefer to push their gorgeous sounds straight into the listeners' frontal lobe." Brian Baker, Amplifier Magazine
"Music in the spirit of Japanese art...it's simple by form, but it's full of complexity in its tone and its timbres"
Bob Boilen, NPR--All Songs Considered
"The listener's attention is grabbed at a visceral level by a wall of sound tinged with the melancholy or introspection of winter blues. Desolate ambience infused with human warmth makes this EP an engrossing listen. Highly recommended."
Dene Bebbington, Melliflua
"Stranded Under Endless Sky (which has one of the most evocative cover photographs in recent memory, being a black and whte study of a couple observed through a passing train window, so that they are only seen as blurred silhouettes while the background snow-covered landscape is in markedly juxtaposed sharp focus) displays the same careful attention to nuance placed within a near cacophonous wall of sound created by guitars and textures... The mood is once again pensive and reflective, not truly dark but decidedly in keeping with the wintry scene on the album cover."
Bill Binkelman, Wind and Wire
Posted By Hammock Music at 2:20 PM
shameless self promotion
OK-OK-OK self promotion can be disgusting--but since we're surprised that anything happens at all with this kind of music we just had to let everyone know. So here it goes.
"Stranded Under Endless Sky" was featured on NPR's "All Songs Considered" this month. Also, the EP charted on "Echoes" Top 20 list, after being programmed eight times for the show. "Musical Starstreams" featured a track from the EP on a recent show, and the record is also charting on CMJ Core stations CHUO (Ottawa), KUCR (LA), KUPS (Seattle), WUNH (Durham NH), WUHS (Storrs CT) and WUOG (Athens GA).
more to come,
Marc (1/2 of hammock)
Posted By Hammock Music at 8:17 AM
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Vinyl, Thanksgiving and Stars
Just a simple reminder that we still have some copies of Stranded Under Endless Sky on vinyl. We also wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. It's getting cold and the stars are getting brighter. A lot of people have said that our music goes great with this time of year. Slap on your headphones, listen to Hammock, look at the stars and... The rest is up to you.
cheers,
Marc (one half of Hammock)
Posted By Hammock Music at 3:18 PM
1 Comments:
-
Aramus said...
- I recieved my clear vinyl copy last week and just ordered sleepover series.
Marc, your talents know no bounds.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Hammock on NPR
Everyone,
Our song Stranded Under Endless Sky has been chosen for National Public Radio's show, All Songs Considered. Here's the link, http://www.npr.org/programs/asc/. Other featured artist are George Harrison, the New Pornographers, Matt Pond PA and Imogen Heap. We've already been featured on NPR's open mic show so I guess they got enough positive feedback to put us on ASC. Thank you to everyone who voted for us while we were on Open Mic. Remember the Sleepover Series vol.1 is out. The record is beatless but if you like tracks
3 (Through a Glass Darkly) , 5 (Winter Light), 6 (Miles to Go Before Sleep), 12 (You May Emerge From This More Dead than Alive)and 14 (the Silence) from Kenotic and the title track from Stranded Under Endless Sky then you may like this record. OK that's all for now.
lost in space,
Marc (one half of Hammock)
Posted By Hammock Music at 8:07 AM
1 Comments:
-
said...
- Marc, just ordered the Sleepover Series vol. 1. Can't wait to hear it. I'm so glad more and more people are noticing your musical talent. I've been digging your stuff since '96's Skywire and have truly enjoyed each album.
I love your blog - keep it fresh for us fans, okay? :)
-Wes
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
sleep-over series vol.1
space heads:
I've received several inquiries about the Sleep-over Series. The Sleep-over Series is a record of beatless, ambient, atmospheric soundscapes. It's called sleep-over because it's extremely dreamy and "relaxing." IT'S NOT RELAXATION SPA MUSIC! It was written, recorded and performed by me (Marc.) Again, I'm sticking with what I know on this record. Ambient layered guitars with a few keyboards thrown in for texture. Hammock does have a track on the record but the rest of the material is primarily my own. And Andrew does make his presence known throughout the record, but more behind the scenes this time. My idea for this project came to me when I thought of turning a concert into a slee-pover. The audience could bring their sleeping bags and different moody type bands could play throughout the night. The music gets more mellow as the night progresses and eventually sleeping and dreaming would overtake us all. (who knows, it could happen) I hope that volume two will be more of a collaborative effort with other artist. So if anybody out there has any ambient music you think could fit in with vol.2 you can send your music to:
hammock music
po box 1652
franklin, tn 37069
still working on the next full length--although after tomorrow I'm going to step away from it all for about four weeks and hopefully gain some objectivity about what we have thus far...
lost in space,
marc
Posted By Hammock Music at 10:01 PM
7 Comments:
- djp72 said...
- your formating is all crazy on that post marc...
and dude i want EVERYTHING... email me when u can! - said...
- will you be posting any samples to this album? i'd love to hear a few tracks before purchasing
looking forward to the new full length... keep up the good work!
Ray. - said...
- I received the sleep-over series vol 1 in the mail today. I am enjoying it very much. Wondering how long it takes for the track information etc. to be available to Media Player?
- Hotel Manager said...
- I really love stranded under endless sky. I'm looking forward to getting the sleep-over series soon.
for any of you interested. I wrote a review of stranded under....at www.gracehotel.net
http://www.gracehotel.net/Albums/05/Hammock05b.html - said...
- I really love stranded under endless sky. I'm looking forward to getting the sleep-over series soon.
for any of you interested. I wrote a review of stranded under....at www.gracehotel.net
http://www.gracehotel.net/Albums/05/Hammock05b.html - manny hernandez said...
- Brilliant concept. Funny that you posted this, because I was actually about to ask you about the sleepover series! :)
- as the deer said...
- I want it......
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Hello Space Heads-We're in Hammock land right now...
Hello space heads-
We're in Hammock land right now working on the next full length. However, we will be taking a four week break from the studio in order to step back from what we have recorded so far. It seems we have to do this in order to gain some objectivity. I always think what we do sounds like crap when we get this far into the creative process. So we feel like it's a good time to take a little hiatus. Besides, the seasons are changing and we need to spend some time looking at the stars and watching the leaves disappear. Speaking for my own self this happens to be my favorite time to lie on my hammock and feel the spinning of the world.
FYI--Stranded Under Endless Sky recently received a great review in Amplifier magazine. The Air Between Us was also featured on NPR's All Songs Considered.
We also want to mention that two of our favorite bands have new albums out--
Explosions in the Sky and Windy and Carl
Don't forget the two album deal if you haven't bought any of our music yet--And for those of you who have purchased our music--Thanks for listening!
Alright, that's it for now...
Lost in Space,
Marc (one half of Hammock)
Posted By Hammock Music at 9:22 AM
9 Comments:
- jay said...
- I am commenting on your blog as a test. You should get this as an email asking you to validate this post. I'll email you the login info in a minute.
- said...
- I'm very very very excited to hear the Sleepover series, guys! Keep up the good work. Hammock is increasingly becoming more and more of one of my favourite groups. Beautiful. Everyone, read our reviews of the two earlier Hammock releases at www.somewherecold.com. Peace, Brent Diaz
- Travis said...
- This site looks great! I am excited to hear that you are already working on a new full-length. Don't forget that thhe Stranded Under Endless Sky EP is avaialble on vinyl through http://www.republicoftexasrecordings.com!!!
- manny hernandez said...
- I first heard Hammock as they put out their "Kenotic" album. I was hipnotized from the first note. Their most recent EP, "Under Endless Sky" is no different, except in one respect: it's even better. Without any lyrics, this time around, the bulk of the album is centered around the atmospheres the instruments create, transporting you if you accidentally close your eyes and forget you are listening to music.
It is hard to balance so well so much power in a guitar with such subtle soundscapes. The four tracks in Hammock's "Stranded Under Endless Sky", with their blend of ambient and shoegazing, make you let go and leave you wanting more. Like an exquisite musical chocolate, their music almost melts in your mouth. I find myself with either their "Kenotic" album or this EP by my bedside, as I start to get in the mood to drift into sleep. You probably should too...
As a reference, for those new to the sound of Hammocck, some similar artists are: M83, Ulrich Schnauss, The Album Leaf and, to a certain degree, Sigur Ros. - said...
- love kinetic guys! seriously, can't wait to hear the new stuff....
cheers!
oliver (saxon shore) - said...
- Hammock is beautiful music to dream by whether awake or asleep. Kenotic was a brilliant introduction to the group and Stranded Under Endless Sky is a great picture of a band and music as it develops. I love the musical hooks in Always Wishing You Were Somewhere Else. Can't wait for the next full length. Hammock is for fans of all things beautiful and ambient. For fans of Sigur Ros, Brian Eno, The Album Lead, Explosions in the Sky...
- said...
- How about some more info about the Sleep Over Series. Is this all Hammock music or a compilation including Hammock?
- SamBridges said...
- Hey Byrd, Great stuff as usual. I e mailed ya, hope ya still got the same address. Once again great stuff and I love this sound, but how did you get into this type music? Not complaining, as someone who works nights alot it is awesome to come home, put on some Hammock and swing away to a dream. Graet job bro!!! Sammy B.
- SamBridges said...
- Hey Marc, great stuff!!!! How did you get into this music though? Not complaining though,as someone who works nights, nothing is better than coming in and putting on some Hammock and swinging away to a dream. I e mailed ya, hope ya still got the same address. Catch up with ya soon.
1. Maybe They Will
Sing For Us Tomorrow
or iTunes
1. Raising Your Voice...
Trying to Stop an Echo
Trying to Stop an Echo
or iTunes
2. The Sleep Over Series Volume 1
The Sleepover Series Vol. 1 is a record of beatless, ambient, atmospheric soundscapes. It's called Sleepover because it is extremely dreamy and contemplative, consisting mostly of ambient guitar with a few keyboards thrown in. Hammock has one track on the record, but the rest was written, recorded and performed by Marc Byrd.
NEW $10.00
Purchase Now<<
The Sleepover Series Vol. 1 is a record of beatless, ambient, atmospheric soundscapes. It's called Sleepover because it is extremely dreamy and contemplative, consisting mostly of ambient guitar with a few keyboards thrown in. Hammock has one track on the record, but the rest was written, recorded and performed by Marc Byrd.
NEW $10.00
Purchase Now<<
3. Stranded Under Endless Sky: EP
Only $4.99
or iTunes
4. Kenotic - Debut
Only $9.99
or iTunes
>>TWO ALBUMS FOR One PRICE
Purchase Stranded Under Endless Sky and Kenotic together for only $12.00
Purchase Now<<
>>OTHER SPECIALSPurchase Now<<
Purchase the limited edition Stranded Under Endless Sky Vinyl for only $4.00
Purchase Now<<
Purchase Now<<
Story Site Is Up, With Music Clips...
Album Available at Darla, New Songs, New Story Sit...
Echoes, artwork, release date, etc...
More info, live shows, new record, etc...
new record
News pt. 1...
exciting news...
exciting news...
Madeleine L'Engle R.I.P.
A couple of new videos: Raising Your Voice....Try...
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>>Reviews
Chosen by Echoes listeners as a Top 25 release of 2006, named by Echoes as Top 25 Essential CD of 2006, and Echoes CD of the Month for January, 2007
Pick of the week for Filter Magazine and cited as a Top 10 release for 2006
"Raising Your Voice... Trying to Stop an Echo" is a massive artistic statement. A Gravity¹s Rainbow of ambient chamber rock, it defies the iTunization of the world. You want to hear the whole thing, slipping it on, cranking up the volume and riding it into an infinite sunset. A dream guitar masterpiece" --John Diliberto, Host, Echoes
Named #2 in Silent Ballet's Top 50 Instrumental Releases of 2006. "Hammock follows up its debut album with another collection of utterly indescribable and magnificent songs...This is music that seeps deeply into the pores and goes straight for the heart...Brilliant only begins to scratch the surface..." --The Silent Ballet
9/10. This longing, melodic, melancholic, and thoughtful texture that seems to tug at one¹s heartstrings from start to finishÅ It¹s the type of music that hits you in the gut immediately, Nothing about this album is less than Grade A+ material. It's an album that forces one to reflect on both the highs and lows in one¹s life.² ÂPop Matters
Throughout the eighteen tracks there is a glorious stillness to be found, even when the drums turn the album into a shoegazing masterpiece, the guitars throwing lazy shapes (and the occasional shadow) across the tunes Opening track 'I Can Almost See You' is as beautiful as anything you have heard this year, an album that is best appreciated when heard in its entirety, although it can be neatly summarised by listening to 'Floating Away In Every Direction', the title speaks volumes and the music perfectly matches the sentiments, but don¹t take my word for it, go and get your own copy and be transported. ÂSimon Lewis, Terrascope
Waves of glimmering Cocteau Twins-like guitar traverse over barren landscapes, twinkling like nearby constellations. It is at once distant and extremely joyous, a life affirming, yet somehow Zen-like expression of mood and of depthÅ It's a lot to take in, and each minute is profoundly emotive and heartbreaking. Hammock may require patience, but those who possess it will be rewarded in spades.² ÂJeff Terich, Treble Magazine
Hammock's brand of musical expression is honest, patient, meticulous and acknowledging of the warm-blooded nature of its listeners. It stirs the soul like little other music that's out there in this day in age.² ÂLuke Daniel Rush, Sound the Sirens
"The Hammock sound is unique; harsh yet beautiful, and curiously satisfying while still leaving one wanting more. Raising Your Voice is a work of genius by a duo who are pathfinders in guitar based drone ambience. It's essential listening for anyone interested in ambient music." --Dene Bebbington, Melliflua
"Hammock's sad, epic music bathes the listener in multi-tracked electric guitars swimming in a sea of reverb and gentle distortion, sometimes alone, sometimes with piano, cello and/or a steady rock backbeat. It's a somber, fuzzy sound but crucially a melodic one too, with an appeal to both electronic ambient and indie rock listeners." --Ambient Music Guide
"Just when you thought this amazing band could not attain the splendid heights of their previous efforts, they go ahead and release a jaw dropping disc of pure sonic BLISS at the end of 2006! Not since the golden days of Brian Eno has an artist created devastatingly beautiful atmospheres that transport you in a dreamlike state beyond the stars..." --Dark Symphonies "5/5. Gorgeous. Stunning. Sublime! Deserves no distractions or interuptions from barking dogs, people talking and general noise pollution. A candidate for best ethereal rock record of the year." --Kenyon Hopkin, Advance Copy
Pick of the week for Filter Magazine and cited as a Top 10 release for 2006
"Raising Your Voice... Trying to Stop an Echo" is a massive artistic statement. A Gravity¹s Rainbow of ambient chamber rock, it defies the iTunization of the world. You want to hear the whole thing, slipping it on, cranking up the volume and riding it into an infinite sunset. A dream guitar masterpiece" --John Diliberto, Host, Echoes
Named #2 in Silent Ballet's Top 50 Instrumental Releases of 2006. "Hammock follows up its debut album with another collection of utterly indescribable and magnificent songs...This is music that seeps deeply into the pores and goes straight for the heart...Brilliant only begins to scratch the surface..." --The Silent Ballet
9/10. This longing, melodic, melancholic, and thoughtful texture that seems to tug at one¹s heartstrings from start to finishÅ It¹s the type of music that hits you in the gut immediately, Nothing about this album is less than Grade A+ material. It's an album that forces one to reflect on both the highs and lows in one¹s life.² ÂPop Matters
Throughout the eighteen tracks there is a glorious stillness to be found, even when the drums turn the album into a shoegazing masterpiece, the guitars throwing lazy shapes (and the occasional shadow) across the tunes Opening track 'I Can Almost See You' is as beautiful as anything you have heard this year, an album that is best appreciated when heard in its entirety, although it can be neatly summarised by listening to 'Floating Away In Every Direction', the title speaks volumes and the music perfectly matches the sentiments, but don¹t take my word for it, go and get your own copy and be transported. ÂSimon Lewis, Terrascope
Waves of glimmering Cocteau Twins-like guitar traverse over barren landscapes, twinkling like nearby constellations. It is at once distant and extremely joyous, a life affirming, yet somehow Zen-like expression of mood and of depthÅ It's a lot to take in, and each minute is profoundly emotive and heartbreaking. Hammock may require patience, but those who possess it will be rewarded in spades.² ÂJeff Terich, Treble Magazine
Hammock's brand of musical expression is honest, patient, meticulous and acknowledging of the warm-blooded nature of its listeners. It stirs the soul like little other music that's out there in this day in age.² ÂLuke Daniel Rush, Sound the Sirens
"The Hammock sound is unique; harsh yet beautiful, and curiously satisfying while still leaving one wanting more. Raising Your Voice is a work of genius by a duo who are pathfinders in guitar based drone ambience. It's essential listening for anyone interested in ambient music." --Dene Bebbington, Melliflua
"Hammock's sad, epic music bathes the listener in multi-tracked electric guitars swimming in a sea of reverb and gentle distortion, sometimes alone, sometimes with piano, cello and/or a steady rock backbeat. It's a somber, fuzzy sound but crucially a melodic one too, with an appeal to both electronic ambient and indie rock listeners." --Ambient Music Guide
"Just when you thought this amazing band could not attain the splendid heights of their previous efforts, they go ahead and release a jaw dropping disc of pure sonic BLISS at the end of 2006! Not since the golden days of Brian Eno has an artist created devastatingly beautiful atmospheres that transport you in a dreamlike state beyond the stars..." --Dark Symphonies "5/5. Gorgeous. Stunning. Sublime! Deserves no distractions or interuptions from barking dogs, people talking and general noise pollution. A candidate for best ethereal rock record of the year." --Kenyon Hopkin, Advance Copy
but i know the feeling, been a long time since i've been for a night stroll...
i'm into night swimming myself.
The poem/rambling was written by me in one sweep of the pen. A stream of conciousness type thing. There is the train imagery that shows up in the poem and that's the reason that Stranded Under Endless Sky starts with a train whistle. It's an attempt to try and connect Kenotic and the EP together. I'll tell you what it says when I get home and can look at the cd. It was such a stream of conciousness type thing that I have forgotten what it actually says.
lost in space,
Marc
The poem/writing on the inside of the jewel case:
I feel like a ghost.
I look like a ghost.
I live among ghosts.
Hollow shells of skin and bone,
With phantom-like souls,
Waiting to catch the last train,
Out of here...
there ya go. nothing that belongs in the great halls of literature.
marc
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