Hammock

Now over twenty years together as a working duo, Hammock continue their remarkable string of sonic explorations with one of their most boldly titled albums, The Second Coming Was A Moonrise. Byrd and Thompson, both primarily guitarists, have found their musical bonds becoming ever stronger as their shared work grows even more dramatic and richer over the years, pursuing a feeling of sweeping, shimmering sonic awe that can never simply be summed up as anything other than itself. “Beatless ambient, post-rock, shoegaze, neoclassical,” says Byrd in conversation, noting tags they’ve been given. “Or as some of our listeners call it, loud Hammock or quiet Hammock. What all our work has in common is a distinctive sonic blueprint.” As has often been the case with their work, much of the album is instrumental or only adds wordless vocal sighs and textures, though always with titles chosen with intent. When the words come, they hit all the harder. Byrd revisited more of his drug-fueled escapes from narrow-minded small town repression with “Chemicals Make You Small.” The latter features two notable guests that aren’t strangers to similar sonic and youthful experiences: Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips, adding vocals and keyboards. Other returning guest performers include Matt Kidd (Slow Meadow), Christine Byrd (Lumenette), Deserta’s Matthew Doty on synths and guitar, Chad Howat playing keyboards and bass and Jake Finch adding some remarkable drumming.