Album Review/ Gothic Folk : Hoxsey’s ‘Harvest Moon Sessions’
Hoxsey’s music does not form along familiar planes. It is a deeply intimate form of musical experimentation. Through his unique blend of styles, the artist seeks to create a language to express his emotional experience. The nuance of it. The power of it. It’s not wrapped in mainstream packaging to draw in everyone. Honest, raw, gritty and gothic, it’s meant for people who feel like outliers, who feel misunderstood and lonely. Hoxsey’s music wraps around in a comforting way. Alienating and insightful, it’s a combination that you wouldn’t expect to form naturally. However, this artist makes it work.
His latest release is the ‘Harvest Moon Sessions’, a collection that expresses gothic folk from the perspective of lofi ambience, toned down alt rock and experimental production. It's cinematic and hyperbolic with a lot of visual cues and lofty scenes. The themes are presented viscerally, with unabashed nocturnal narratives and gritty gothic scenes.
‘Rise’ opens the collection. The song is powerful because it is made to awaken, to stir his world into life. Lots of upward movements within the track along with introductory notions to ease the listener into his landscapes.
The collection hosts dark acoustic covers of some of his previous releases like ‘Humans’, ‘Bath Salts’, and ‘Over The Mornings New Moon’. These reveal subtler layers of sensibilities that were previously not there. It’s as if he's giving the listener behind the scenes. Feels intimate, informal and honest in a way that changes the way you receive the theme.
Tracks like ‘Sunday’, ‘Moving On’, and ‘Silent Goodbyes’, are especially interesting. They stand apart from the other tracks with their bright ukulele tones and warm textures. However, as you progress across its length, the vocals and the productions reveal a dark melancholic plane. Once you feel it, perceive it, you’ll find it lurking in several corners and pockets of the track. The more you examine it, the more it reveals itself. Such a subtle trick, available only to those who are familiar with that wavelength. Like this, the artist keeps so many secrets, accessible to the listener that looks for it, or understands it.
‘Sacrifice Table’, ‘I Yield’ and ‘Rowboat Purgatory’ are atmospheric tracks that are marked and made by its texture. The gritty basslines and string work are presented to leave a textural trail. One that persists throughout the track. The vocals and instrumental arrangements present with vivid absurdities and vague scenes. Simultaneously. It’s like a treasure map almost, cryptic and mysterious, compelling you to look closer. These tracks directly transport you to gothic landscapes. Dark, damp and full of wilderness. Moorish and secretive, it slowly reveals beauty. Listen Now!
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The album is available for streaming on popular sites like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music!
You can listen to ‘Harvest Moon Sessions’ by Hoxsey here -
