Hanging Freud – Motherland (2016)
- Shoegaze
- Indie folk
- Indie dance
- Post-punk
- Alternative
dance
- Art rock
- Darkwave
- Electronic
- Experimental rock
- Alternative pop/rock
- Indie pop/rock
- Space rock
Comment: My first impression with the music of Hanging
Freud was in connection with their album Sunken on the Brazilian record
label Sinewave and French imprint Myhand.Thanx Records The duo of Paula Borges,
and Jonathan Perez made me immediately excited because of craftily merging an
exciting feel of songwriting in the vein of experimental rock, shoegaze and
space rock. Later on I had listened to the Sao Paulo, Brazil-based duo`s two
first issues Hanging Freud (2005), and Continental EP (2007) as
well, which maybe were slightly more straightforward yet excellent releases
without any doubt. In November 2015 Borges/Perez issued the fourth issue No
Body Allowed. This time their 6-notch issue chimes somewhere between
paganism and medieval music influenced indie folk/rock and on the other side it
is spacey indie, post-punk, poignant electronic music and shoegaze tinged
alternative rock. In comparison to the duo’s first albums the issue is partly
more dance-appealed, and remarkably more electronic. The outing involves great
mind-blowing tracks like Lost Children, Centuries, and The
South. By kindred souls there can be drawn parallels with such artists as
Espers, My Bloody Valentine (in some tracks the influence of Loveless is
perceivable though being interpreted indirectly, in the duo’s own way),
Anahita, Lycia, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. However, despite hinting at more
recognised artists it does not mean Hanging Freud does lack its own
idiosyncratic touch. The instrumentation of the album and the singing of Paula
Borges are masterfully balanced and do complement each other thereby resulting in
as an excellent issue. The duo's touch is flowing freely being saturated with
otherworldly reveries and insights from a psychotic abyss. The harmonies and sonic effects fall seamlessly together. I cannot be wrong by
stating that Hanging Freud is one of the most underrated artists worldwide
during the last ten years. But I really hope the things will be changed and the
current issue will find its place in lists of the best releases in 2016. At
least at Recent Music Heroes the notch is guaranteed.
