This is the first full-length album of a band I’ve seen the evolution of since their beginning. “Surface Tension,” by Hidden Hospitals. This review and this album means a lot to me. These are four men that put together some of smoothest, coolest, most interesting sounding music I’ve ever heard, and it’s the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication. Hailing from Chicago, Hidden Hospitals is an indie supergroup of sorts, composed mostly of members from two indie bands the early 2000’s. Dave Raymond, on guitar and vocals, and Steve Downs, on guitar, are former members of Damiera. While drummer, Jared Karns is a former Kiss Kiss member. Bassist/vocalist, John Scott seems to be the only one I can’t find any previous information on. Regardless, this album throws down hard and delivers exactly what the rock scene needs today, someone brave enough to try something new.
I discovered these guys while looking up old Damiera songs. “Hidden Hospitals: Swan Dive,” popped up in the suggestions. I figured “Eh, sure, why not?” I checked out the video, which was simple, tasteful and clean, but the music… man this track was just so different. The percussion was on point, the lyrics were just out-there enough to get me thinking, but not enough to alienate me. The strings were beyond complex and meshed together so well. Then I looked at the video for a song called “Absence of Emotion” which was again, a nice, tasteful video, and again the music blew me away. This song was high energy but didn’t abandon complexity. Both of these videos graced my Youtube history for quite a while to show to my friends. Hidden Hospitals had at that point released two extended plays (EP), named “EP 001” and “EP 002” the work they put into them impressed me beyond words.
Okay so now to talk about the actual album, “Surface Tension” . This album is a tear-jerker from start to finish. It’s understatedly heavy, powerful lyrically and played in such a way that it really hits you deep. Something about the tone of this record just pulled at the heart-strings. Alternative rock has really seemed to lose its edge in the mainstream, sounding a bit soulless to me as of late. This album is almost the antithesis of that critique. Each track is inviting and the themes of acceptance, life and personal exploration are subtle. The opening track “Pulp,” is a slow jam that eases you into the experience and sets the pace to a nice build. The track listing on this album is completely deliberate. Each track compliments the next all the way to the last, titular outro track: “Surface Tension,” They even thought to throw in a referential track to “EP 002” in the form of “History” which is just a short harmonized singing of the chorus of “Absence of Emotion” Now that’s classy, and a bit of a treat for fans like myself.
Musically, these guys are just badass. Vocally, Raymond has a lot of control and plays with his falsetto range here and there. Scott harmonizes to fill out the sound. Guitar playing from both Raymond and Down transitions between riffing, arpeggiated or harmonized chords, and heavier, more metal sounding sections. Scott’s Bass playing is something that really shines in a way that it pops up at just the right times to add that extra… something to the track. Listen to the track “Modern Saints” and you’ll see what I mean. Karns’ drumming is very versatile. He can bounce from rock-steady beats to explosive use of the rack-toms, and then move into an almost polyrhythmic sounding section that is deceptively complicated. The use keyboards here and there really help to compliment the spaces between. In short, these are real musicians who have put in the hours to make this album work.
Lyrically, this album is real poetry put to music. It’s often times not a direct address to the listener, but more of a shadow story that almost sounds like an inner dialogue or confessions. These confessions are so heart-felt, so honest. Listen to “Trilogy” for the full effect of this (which may also be my favorite track on the album,). There is only so much I can say; you really have to listen to the album to get the effect.
Five Stars Without a doubt. This is a tonal trip for 2015 so get on board! If you like alternative or experimental music, then this album will be right up your alley. Fans of more simply composed rock music might find it too much for them. The more you let this album in, the more you will get out of it. Worth the money and pressed on vinyl, “Surface Tension” by Hidden Hospitals is in my opinion, the first sleeper album of 2015 that you NEED to at least hear.