Hammock
Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow


4.0
excellent

Review

by USER (38 Reviews)
June 21st, 2008 | 55 replies


Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Hammock creates a soundtrack to the moments before your memories and your thoughts enter sleep

In August 2007, the duo of Hammock was asked to take a risk that would ultimately change the direction of their musical identities. Invited to play their first live gig ever at an art show attended by Sigur Ros’ Jon Thor Birgisson and other hefty stalwarts, an obvious influence on the ambient duo. Drastically, Hammock was faced with attempting to recreate the soundscapes of their recorded material into a grand display of live grandeur worthy of the acclaim they received ever since the debut of 2005’s Kenotic. The challenged faced with, it seems, was to make a decision between the proposition of coalescing and cramming as many effects as they could into this unveiling of sonic grandeur or to fully realize the beauty behind their music; the result being the simplicity and repose of a guitar and effect pedals. Thankfully - For the crowd and for Hammock’s direction in sound – Hammock chose the latter and the results fruitfully flowered into a still and marveling piece of music, an album whose only flaw is its lack of malleability.

With these new mannerisms and a new found vision to guide them, Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow is the recorded result of that change in direction, a direct step in progression to the live performance. The minimalistic approach taken to tackle this new form of vision has never yielded such grand and colossal sonic results, as the accompaniment of a cello and Hammock’s guitars are enough to round out Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow’s musical palette. In its utter simplicity, a smorgasbord of emotions are subtly scattered across the wall of sheen and waves of melodies that undercurrent the simple musical framework. For this, Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow is a mature step forward for the ever changing identity of Hammock and is its defining and distinctively breathtaking quality. Even as “Gold Star Mothers” unfolds itself into your ears, the calm after a storm is gently patterned into the listener’s mind and a feeling of repose overwhelms the listener, but still a sense of familiarity can be heard and it’s obvious that Hammock hasn’t set out to reinvent the wheel, it’s only making the duo’s intentions known. The gentle poetic honesty that can be heard in Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow is easily its most appealing quality; providing an audible solace for any walk of life without any words to meddle the meaning. It is the record’s angelic optimism that sweeps under the listener that makes Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow more than worthwhile to listeners familiar to the contemplative arrangements of more known and accomplished ambient composers. The sadness and melancholia of disappointment circulates over “This Kind of Life Keeps Breaking Your Heart”, only to project a beacon of hope.

The emotional nakedness of Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow is equally as compelling as the accompanying optimism that is underneath the record. Hammock lets it known that they aren’t afraid to express what it is that has created who they are today. A duo which has shed any emotional reserve and is unafraid to express the frailty that has deadened them, unafraid to express whatever form of joy, pain, hopefulness or whichever inspired these emotions to unravel themselves. With this, Hammock spills themselves onto the floor and it’s the listener’s choice to choose an emotion from the gamut left in the wake. Another malingering quality to Maybe they will… is the linearity of the record. After one song takes a trip through a sentiment, it may end off with an entirely different atmosphere and the next song will carry it like a wave. However, it must be noted that this is also Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow’s biggest weakness; it’s lack of variation and malleability. Only the stunning “Mono No Aware” and the ominous and brooding “Elm” stand distinctively as highlights primarily due to their distinctive qualities and variation in tempo. This is a disappointing flaw, when taken into account that the record may have been even more compelling if it was able to encompass a larger variety of moods and variations.

So, with the yearning vocals and the Boards of Canada mannerisms of their previous work cast off to the sea, what remains is simple and unadorned. Hammock is fortunate enough to create enough magic throughout this meaty set, and Maybe They Will… is a still beauty. In hindsight, the little decisions made to alter their identity are the ones that are easily worth the avail of taking the risk, and for that the flaws of Maybe They will… do not dampen the optimism and natural triumph escaping the speakers. With the sparkling reverberation of “Mono No Aware” acting as a defining centerpiece, Hammock creates a soundtrack to the moments before your memories and your thoughts enter sleep, and stay there in bliss. And with an album without a single word, it’s safe to assume that they will indeed sing for Hammock tomorrow; a wordless hymn for a tomorrow not yet revealed.



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user ratings (162)
3.9
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
Aficionado
June 21st 2008


1027 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Somebody comment plz.

robin
June 21st 2008


4596 Comments


cool, but i really want their other one.

FlawedPerfection
Emeritus
June 22nd 2008


2807 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I started a review for this, but you did a good job, so I'll move onto something else. Hammock is really fantastic. I like how you didn't really mention individual songs, because that's not the point here.

cometuesday
June 22nd 2008


959 Comments


excellent review, these guys are nothing short of brilliant. i can't believe i have yet to pick this up but it's definitely on the top of the list.

MrKite
June 22nd 2008


5020 Comments


Tomorrow is spelled wrong in the title.
I'm gonna download the shit out of this because the summary hooked me.

Aficionado
June 22nd 2008


1027 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks, I'll make sure to fix that.

Thanks for the comments bros.

FlawedPerfection
Emeritus
June 22nd 2008


2807 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Gold Star Mothers is missing in the tracklist too.

Aficionado
June 22nd 2008


1027 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

both fixed ;)

Neoteric
June 22nd 2008


3243 Comments


Cool.

badtaste
July 4th 2008


824 Comments


Sweet review, a little too sweet if you ask me, haha.

TotalLongo
September 12th 2010


1 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This is best album if you're an insomniac. And i mean that in the nicest possible way.

macadoolahicky
March 29th 2012


1834 Comments


I don't really see how that would be taken in a mean way. Also, I don't understand how that is the only comment you have made on this website.

Propose
January 10th 2013


959 Comments


since when did snoxall quit?

zaruyache
February 17th 2013


27693 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Since forever.

Drummerboy123
May 5th 2013


3121 Comments


The title track on this album is heart wrenchingly good.

CK
May 7th 2013


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Amazing, you mean

JS19
May 11th 2013


7777 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Has been remastered and reissued! Sounds even better

Drummerboy123
May 11th 2013


3121 Comments


Some of the tracks here feel like they would fit on the PS1 Spyro games...

Like the homeworld soundtracks

E.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH5R_TzdAG8

Can't wait for their new album! Probs best post-rock besides new GIAA.

minty901
May 13th 2013


3976 Comments


ok so im not gonna pay for this album a second time just cause they fucked up the key of one of the tracks on here. anyone found a download link of the new remaster?

JS19
May 13th 2013


7777 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Afraid not - I bought it because I didn't the first time round. Can't upload things on my uni network. There'll probably be one around soon though, it's not been out for very long



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