Staff Reviews

White Hills - H-p1

Review by Simon Jay Catling

The arrival of a new White Hills record plunges psychedelia's rotating axis firmly into the darkness.»

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cd version comes in a 4 panel mini-lp style gatefold package with 4 page booklet. musically, 'h-p1', white hills second full-length for thrill jockey, expands on the explorations of previous albums in ambience, noise, and space rock all led by guitarist dave w's blistering guitar solos. this is the most fully realized white hills album to date and the one that takes them furthest from their pure space rock roots. it is also their most angry record. it is a reaction to what white hills sees as government co-opted and controlled by corporations. it is a wake up call.
the cover is a stark, colourless landscape, a metaphor for the status quo, while the inside and the record are an attempt to break free from this bland existence. the music and the photo inside are loud, colorful, exuberant, and alive. 'h-p1' was recorded at the ocropolis in williamsburg, brooklyn on september 7th and 8th 2010 by shahin 'showtime' motia (guitarist of oneida) and mixed by dave w and pierre auntour in nyc and by antronhy in nottingham, uk. the album was mastered by heba kadry at the lodge. a notable difference is the addition of synthesizer player, shazzula, for the recordings. shazzula has performed with the group in europe on and off throughout the last year. there was no compression used on the record.
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