Labels: Domino
Review by: Chris Bress
Hood are one of those bands I’ve never bothered checking out. And my friends insisting I went to see them supporting Do Make Say Think, ages ago now, and they didn’t grab me one bit. I missed them at the Christmas ATP but picked up their split 7″ with Themselves. I was pretty gutted after hearing the 7″ as it was really nice indie rock that wasn’t scared of experimenting. This single has a much bigger production with strings fleeting over the poppy post rock and perfect sound. The chorus is pretty nice and the multiple use of instruments is always a bonus but there’s something about Hood that just doesn’t sit well with me, although I really want to like them! They sound like a sleepy UK version of bands like Arcade Fire or Modest Mouse, but they have a touch of Bark Psychosis, Talk Talk, Robert Wyatt and David Sylvian’s late night rock, which is their better side. This single features two unreleased tracks, both of which are pretty good, the last track being a dreamy pop number in the vein of an English Beat Happening with a slight Smashing Pumpkins feel, which is my favourite.