I’ve checked every Stygian pocket for breath;
there is none.
In the wake of numerous home-produced offerings, the Portland-based ensemble, Hovering Shrikes, heralds the advent of their latest single, Things Go Missing. Initially conceived as a brooding folk composition by the group’s principal vocalist and wordsmith, Ryan Wilson, more than ten years prior, the track underwent a transformative reimagining at the hands of lead guitarist and music architect, Casey Frantum, resulting in a richly textured, filmic auditory experience. Bringing to mind Electric Six, Tuxedomoon, Danny Elfman and the Doors alike, this psychedelic offering is brimming with emotion and bursting passion.
Things Go Missing delves into the reverberations of a harrowing metamorphosis and its profound effect on an observer.
The narrative takes place in the heart of Dakota’s vast landscape, two souls navigate memories, distance, and unspoken traumas. While one recalls a harrowing waterborne encounter with an unseen entity, evoking feelings of dread and vulnerability – the other grapples with lingering emotional ties and the weight of absence. This poignant narrative confronts love, loss, and unsettling moments of introspection amid desolate backdrops and haunting reminiscences.
Wilson drew from a real-life initiation rite in Wilson’s hometown, where individuals were hurled off a pier as ritualistic sacrifices, the narrative reflects that while all emerged from the waters, some found themselves irrevocably altered.
The composition epitomizes the quintessence of Hovering Shrikes’ craft: richly woven, evocative lyrics paired with powerful, compelling instrumentals. Gentle guitar strains gradually cede to subtle yet determined percussion, setting the stage for an expanse of otherworldly synth and bass, all culminating in Wilson’s dramatic vocal crescendos that echo over an intricately layered, spectral, and propulsive musical landscape.
Listen below:
The composition heralds the inaugural recording with an expanded ensemble, featuring Dan Duncan, formerly on drums, now on bass, and Jared Bozza holding the rhythm on drums. In May, the collective dedicated a duo of days to honing their craft at the esteemed Jackpot! Recording Studio, under the deft guidance of engineer Adam Lee. Things Go Missing stands as one among a collection of pieces cultivated during this fertile period of creativity, with the ensemble keenly anticipating a return to the studio to cultivate their forthcoming album.
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