Narc. Magazine Online
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Neil Ainger enjoys some droning instrumentation on which distant, ghostly vocals are layered transporting the listener to an unsettling but lucid, relaxing place
Sacred Bones Records
Released: 31.10.25
At the turn of the century I had recently turned 17 years of age and was deeply immersed in a musical awakening. I couldn’t get enough and simply wanted to absorb as much music as I could, and one of the current bands of the time that I was in love with and that meant a great deal to me were Irish indie/alternative band JJ72. Mark Greaney’s divisive voice reminded me of the silky smooth, beautiful tones of Jeff Buckley fused with the snarled aggressive tones of Brian Molko. With a voice like that it’s hard for the vocals not to be the focus. However holding everything together superbly were Fergal Matthews on drums and Hilary Woods on bass, whose presence was that of a quiet, reserved bystander. Almost disappearing into the background but with an understated but undeniable command.
Hilary’s resurgence as a solo musician in recent years has been largely well received. Coming off the back of a couple of atmospheric solo records, she has emerged from the shadows into the light, while the minimal and instrumental nature of the albums has allowed her to retain some of that elusiveness. Her latest record Night CRIÚ still feels very minimalistic and gentle in its nature while allowing her to really step into the spotlight with more conventional song structures and, most notably, vocals and lyrics.
The droning instrumentation throughout at a steady tempo provides an uneasy feeling on which distant, ghostly vocals are layered which gives the record a dream-like quality transporting the listener to an unsettling but lucid, relaxing place. In contrast, the appearances of a brass band and a children’s choir disrupt and challenge but in a way that makes perfect sense and adds to the gothic, sinister undertone of the record. In summary, this is the best work to date of Hilary Woods and her finest artistic statement. I can only look forward with interest toward where she may go next because I am left with a feeling that it may be somewhere very unexpected.
