I have no idea what it is about Florida — Gainesville, in particular — that breeds such innovation but someone needs to put some research into it and start pumping whatever’s in the water down there into the general water supply. Experimental pop trio Hear Hums‘ recently released EP takes world music fascination and explodes it – cramming it with a multitude of sounds from bird chirping to floor creaks, to non-lyrical vocal moans and groans.
The EP functions so cohesively: buoying the energy from each track into the next one that it’s hard to place just one or even two tracks that properly sum up what Hear Hums do so effortless on EP. “Ceiling Scraper”, however, comes mighty close. You see “Ceiling Scraper” is the moment on the EP where the vocals truly make themselves known. Sure there’s it’s predecessor “Porch Pursuits” with it’s barely-there hints of vocals and whistles but “Ceiling Scraper” sees the vocals presented in earnest.
Amid a sea of percussion composed of clattering drumstick taps, the vocals play a dual part, taking on a percussive edge while harmoniously in tune with each other. They’re pleasant but not without purpose, driving things forward in much the same way drums would. There’s even a slight electronic haze for an added textural flavor without obscuring any of the track’s simple-seeming assortment of layers.
Hear Hum’s EP is out now and available digitally on Bandcamp or on cassette from Utah-based Inner Islands.
