The Hush Sound - 'Like Vines' (Fueled By Ramen) Released 05/06/06

Only five months after The Hush Sound started seriously writing and playing shows, they deservedly gained the attention of Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz through their page on purevolume. Since then, they have found a home on the renowned indie label, Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen. So, summer 2006 and The Hush Sound have just released new album ‘Like Vines’, and what a god damn corker!

"In our field outside of town, we could always be alone", sings Bob Morris, guitarist and vocalist of this fine Chicago hailing outfit. First single from the album, and opening track ‘We Intertwined’ is a simplistic, yet enchanting tune with a melody that surpasses all expectations. Despite being label mates, The Hush Sound possess only a small likeness to Fall Out Boy, in their fondness for indie and their accents. Everything about this band is so much more complex, so much more developed. From the pulsing Keyboard rhythms and Brass backing in ‘Lions Roar’ to the beautifully classical Piano in the likes of ‘You Are The Moon’ and ‘Lighthouse’. The depth and versatility of The Hush Sound grabs you from the very start, drawing you into listening with somewhat of a stunned expression until the music finally stops, and you switch back to the beginning.

’Sweet Tangerine’ is a yearning ballad, disguised by pompous keyboard/piano rhythms and staccato drumming, only revealing itself in the heart breaking chorus, grabbing every warm blooded person’s heart strings; "Sweet Tangerine, will you please come back to me?" As if this wasn’t enough, following this is the absolutely aurally stunning ‘Lighthouse’. Featuring the unbelievably accomplished sounds of pianist and vocalist Greta Salpeter, set to haunting guitar notes that come in and out of ear shot, whilst the deep bass adds a depth unfathomed. A beautiful ballad, telling the tale of being saved by a small girl’s ghost whilst drowning.

Moving through this well put together set of tunes and melodies, it becomes apparent that each song is great in it’s own right, but when played one after the other, well, it’s just fantastic. Sounding curiously like the theme music to ‘Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)’, the intro to ‘Don’t Wake Me Up’ gives way to a fabulously danceable groove before the true gem of the album is revealed. ’Magnolia’ is a top class pop/Indie anthem, heart wrenching and soul warming, it’s a sure fire single and should, if the world is sane, be number 1 in the charts right now. Greta’s smoothly changing vocals effortlessly move through changes in tempo and key, enthralling as you smile and share a memory to the haunting piano outro.

There is a depth to this band, that if explored fully by the masses, would undoubtedly propel them to stardom, and if this world we live in is as sane as it is claimed, The Hush Sound would currently be number 1 in the charts and generating adoration and love from around the globe.