Indie Music Chatter

I’ve been listening to Pour Away The Ocean the debut album from Hoax Funeral. I have to say that I am quite impressed by the level of assuredness from the band. For a debut album, Hoax Funeral has already established a sound that is distinct and filled with confidence.

The UK-based Hoax Funeral, as the band states, plays alt-folk. I do agree that they can be easily pigeonholed into this sub genre, one that is actually gaining a lot of proponents because of the continued rise in popularity of the Weird America movement led by folk impresario Devendra Banhart. But unlike the other Weird America disciples, Hoax Funeral puts the “weird” safely in a drawer and tap into a more accessible form of folk. They have been compared to acts as diverse as Shearwater, Low and Tunng. I do, however, think that they share some similarities with Mazzy Star, The Cowboy Junkies and with the US-based indie folk group Hem. I also hear very distinct bluegrass influences on Hoax Funeral’s sound, a bit of Nickel Creek comes out a little in some of their songs.

But back to the album. Pour Away The Ocean is one of the most heartfelt albums I’ve heard this year. I think Anjy Hall is one hell of a vocalist. Her pixie-ish delivery actually reminds me of a more tuneful version of Drugstore’s Isabel Monteiro. She gives Hoax Funeral’s songs a level of child-like vulnerability that compels you to listen. And this is most apparent in their short cover of Leadbelly’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night. Now, this song became “popular” because Nirvana covered it. But while Kurt Cobain gave the song a world weary delivery, Hall made the song less of an accusation, and more of a desperate plea. Too bad, it was such a short cover.

The songs in Pour Away The Ocean, is not just a centerpiece for Hall’s voice but also for the virtuosity of the rest of the Band. Chris Gregory, AJ Jordan and Cherish Burke bring to the table. Who would’ve thought that atmospheric almost shoe-gazey guitars can have a place in an alt-folk setting? It really does work and Hoax Funeral has cornered the market for it.

Hoax Funeral has made the ultimate indie decision by deciding to handle all aspects of production, distribution and marketing on their own and they have to be commended for this. Although this may mean that not as many people will be able to hear them initially, I am sure that the promise that the band holds will win out in the end. Hoax Funeral is not a band that has to be selfishly kept to one’s self. They deserve a far larger audience. And Pour Way The Ocean ensures that they will be heard.

Hoax Funeral, Pour Away The Ocean, Nickel Creek, Hem