The Hollows - It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It

I had been looking forward to listening to The Hollows new album 'It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It' since I first reviewed some sample tracks from it earlier this year, and now finally listening to the full album this past week, I have to say it was well worth the wait. This album is a real gem.

While everything about the appearance of this album has the personal touch, from the artwork to the hand-made packaging, tied and bound, the songs on it are every bit as much so, with some beautifully fragile accounts of reaching out from sorrow. If you want to draw comparisons, consider Sparklehorse's quieter moments such as 'Junebug' or 'Sad and Beautiful World'. It's folkish, but predominantly indie, and quite touching. It is also dotted with beautifully poetic lyrics, such as in 'Dreamt You Woke' leading off tenderly with 'the winter blossoms just appeared, fell to ground like little tears...' and coupled with despondantly revealing lines, most striking in 'Cavalry' with 'it seems we have no great expectations, we dream our dreams, but live a lie', there are many moments on this album that although are crushingly sorrowful, are also truly majestic.

For me, choice tracks would be 'Cavalry' and the painfully sad 'Close My Eyes', although I feel all songs on the album level out quite well together.

This is actually the third release from The Hollows. Previously they have released a mini-album 'Seeking To Stand Beautifully On The Earth' and a 3-inch CD EP 'We Could Sleep This Season Through'. The band were also recently asked to contribute a song to the soundtrack to 'Superheros', an independent film by award-winning director Ed Radtke. They are currently arranging gigs around Ireland to promote the release and already have plans to begin recording material for a new EP. The album is finding its way to record stores and distributors around Ireland and the UK, and is also available online through Road Records.

Related Links:

http://www.thehollowsmusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/thehollowsie

http://www.slowloris.org