Wednesday, December 28, 2005
SOMEWHERE COLD INTERVIEW

Everyone,

Please check this out! It's a full length interview that we did with Brent Diaz over at somewherecold. Here's the link: go to www.somewherecold.com and then click on the link on the front page or go to the 2005 Interviews Section, where the article can also be found.

marc
Posted By Hammock Music at 5:20 PM

ECHOES and the END of 2005

Friends, space travellers and music snobs,

So I guess Hammock is ending the year with a bang:
Hammock's "Stranded Under Endless Sky" was chosen as one of the top 25 releases of the year. Hammock was #19 in the Top 25, and was named alongside stalwarts such as Brian Eno, Sigur Ros, Album Leaf, Steve Roach, Harold Budd, Jeff Pearce and Moby. Echoes creates a radio show comprised of the Top 25 releases of the year and it will air three times, the last of which is
Friday, December 30 (check local listings for show air time in your area). We are grateful to all of you for a wonderful year for Hammock. Seriously, what a cool year. This whole Hammock thing has been a great adventure so far. Next year we hope to have another full length out, a couple of videos (ghetto style) and numerous other projects. So thanks again to everyone who supported our music this year. We were really blown away by the response. I do have to be honest though--we would do this even if no one was listening because we love doing it.

See you on the other side...

--You have to check out this interview Brent Diaz did with us. It's great--it really captures what Hammock's all about: Click here
Posted By Hammock Music at 5:05 PM

Thursday, December 22, 2005
1st review of Sleepover

V/A: The Sleepover Series [Volume 1] (Hammock Music, 2005)

From the opening moments, the music is quieting, cutting through the busyness and clamour of life with floating guitar lines. All of the varying commitments in life seem to vanish in the haze of languid drones, leaving the listener to bask solely in the moment.


It makes sense that the music which breathes over the listener in such a placating manner would be packaged with a picture of a praying sculpture and given the name The Sleepover Series [Volume 1]. Created mainly by Marc Byrd, ½ of the new ambient-drone-space-postrock darlings Hammock (but also featuring generous contributions from the other ½ of Hammock, Andrew Thompson), The Sleepover Series [Volume 1] is a study in deliberately soothing textures designed to give the listener space to reflect. And, similar to Hammock’s other 2005 releases (the full-length Kenotic and the Stranded Under Endless Sky EP), The Sleepover Series [Volume 1] succeeds in capturing an other-worldly mood of contemplation and serenity that speaks to the listener’s soul.


Following in the broad footsteps of bands like Stars of the Lid/The Dead Texan and the mellower moments of Windy and Carl, The Sleepover Series [Volume 1] smothers the listener in varying densities of delayed guitar drones. Featuring no percussion or vocals, this full-length is a true atmospheric drone CD. Byrd’s approach to music on this release is to fashion slowly evolving music that conveys without words stilling notions that are hinted to in the titles of the songs. “Moon Through the Branches”, “Empty Page/Blue Sky”, “Dropping Off”, “Just Before Breathing”, “Still Point”, and “No Stopping the Sea” all demonstrate to Byrd’s unique talent for capturing ethereal moments in music. Due to each song’s wonderful and encompassing mood, and given the nature of the music, it truly is difficult to pick stand-out tracks on the CD. The Sleepover Series [Volume 1] is meant to be digested as a whole. Still, some tracks deserve a mention for curious listeners. “Empty Page/Blue Sky” is the only track attributed to Hammock (as opposed to Marc Byrd), and as such, it does sound a bit different from the other tracks, featuring a slightly darker mood and more involved guitar melodies, as well as more detailed musical accents. “Dropping Off” is 15 minutes of dark and slightly foreboding sounds. But, the highlight of the disc (if one is to be chosen) is the gloriously delicate “Still Point”, which features 24 + minutes (!) of angelic drones hovering and slightly mutating in the air. To begin to pick out the most appealing moments of The Sleepover Series [Volume 1], though, proves futile, as every moment of music on the disc leads to the other in a patiently and masterfully orchestrated symphony of subtlety.


In the end, Byrd (and Hammock) have again created a beautiful work of art. This talented duo has released yet another sub-conscious masterpiece of gorgeous music. Perfect for star-gazing, peering out your window at the snow falling, or even to fall asleep to, The Sleepover Series [Volume 1] is a dazzling must-have for ambient/atmospheric music lovers. Highly recommended.


Added: Thursday, December 22, 2005
Reviewer: Brent
Score: five stars out of five
Related Link: http://www.somewherecold.com/
hits: 4
Posted By Hammock Music at 12:13 PM

Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Life Passing By

I'm sitting here listening to Brian McBride's gorgeous new record When the Details Lost It's Freedom and it's freakin gorgeous. I see now why Stars of the Lid is so powerful. Adam Bryanbaum's the Dead Texan is equally as beautiful as Brian's new record. It's hard not to be envious. Anyway, my wife has had a kidney stone the last few days and the nights have been long for both of us. In addition to that our cat who has been with Christy for twelve years and in my life for eight years is at the vet. She's been there for the last two days. The doctor is sending us negative signals about her future. I have to admit I'm pretty sad about it. It's amazing how connected you can become to something; little things that you didn't even notice until they disappear and they're no longer there. I guess it's silly to be this way about a cat but it's these situations that get me to thinking about the big picture, the big questions, the whole catastrophe and the shafts of light that occasionally break through. Actually I always think about these things but when it hits close to home everything falls out of the abstract and reality socks you in the gut. (Maybe I'm walking a fine line here where I could fall off into pretentious land so I'll shut up now) Sorry to ramble but I think that three other people and myself are the only ones that read this blog. OK--that's all for now.

Go buy Brian McBride's new record and {float.}

January is blocked out to work on the new Hammock record--who knows what might happen?

peace on earth,
Marc
Posted By Hammock Music at 9:17 PM

Wednesday, December 14, 2005
ECHOES Top 25

Fellow space travelers

We are happy to inform everyone that Stranded Under Endless Sky was chosen as one of Echoes top 25 albums of the year. We came in at #19. We're really happy to be on the same list as Brian Eno, Sigur Ros, Album Leaf, Steve Roach, Harold Budd, Jeff Pearce and Moby. We feel that name dropping is appropriate this time since we're fans of all these artist and we're always surprised when we're associated with them. (Shocked is more like it! ) Anyway, we just wanted to offer up a heart felt thanks to everyone who voted for us and as always, thanks for listening.

lost in space,
Marc
Posted By Hammock Music at 9:15 PM

Saturday, December 03, 2005
DIGITAL DOWNLOADS

ATTENTION!

THE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD PORTION OF OUR SITE IS READY! WE WILL HAVE KENOTIC AND STRANDED READY FOR DOWNLOADS SHORTLY. FYI--WE PLAN ON RELEASING A NEW TRACK EVERY MONTH FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD ONLY! KEEP COMING BACK TO THE SITE TO SEE WHAT'S NEW... STILL IN THE STUDIO RACKING OUR BRAINS AND FACING OUR ARTISTIC INSECURITIES CONCERNING HAMMOCK'S NEW RECORD. IN DUE TIME...

MARC
Posted By Hammock Music at 6:26 PM