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Hammock (band)

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Hammock
Hammock performing in 2008
Hammock performing in 2008
Background information
OriginNashville, Tennessee, United States
Genres
Years active2005–present
Labels
MembersMarc Byrd
Andrew Thompson
Websitehammockmusic.com

Hammock is an American ambient post-rock duo formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2005 by Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson.

Hammock have released 10 albums and five EPs since 2005, mostly on their own label, Hammock Music, which is distributed through Secretly Distribution,[1] and have garnered favorable reviews from critics, including Pitchfork[2][3][4] and AllMusic.[5]

History

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Formation and first releases

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Hammock was formed in Nashville, Tennessee, by Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson, both former members of the alternative rock band Common Children. After the band split in 2001, the pair continued to write, record, and produce together in their free time.[6] Byrd was a songwriter for EMI Records, a job which he disliked and left him feeling burned out creatively.[7] He started to visit Thompson at his house, where they started "messing around" with ambient music that they had wanted to produce for some time at his basement studio named Studio 37.[6] The style of music was similar to the music the pair were listening to for pleasure, and "so far removed" from what they were used to working on which provided a refreshing and new direction.[6] Byrd said: "We didn't really see it turning into anything other than just good musical therapy."[8] Before long the pair had recorded between 20 and 40 tracks from these informal sessions which prompted them to release the material, thinking others might enjoy the music.[8][6] The band acquired its name when Byrd was hosting a party at his house, and told his friends that he and Thompson were stuck for names. A friend noticed his hammock in the garden and suggested it, which stuck. Byrd said: I didn't think of hammock, like the lazy beach. I thought of it more like, looking at the stars."[9]

In March 2005, music written and recorded from these initial sessions over a two-and-a-half year period was released on Hammock's debut album, Kenotic.[7] The record was written and recorded intermittently across a two-and-a-half year period, and self-released by the band. The enthusiastic response to the album took them by surprise.[7][6] This was followed by the EP Stranded Under Endless Sky four months later. The band published their website with quotes, poems, and external links to content that they thought fit with their music.[6] At the end of 2005, the webzine Somewhere Cold voted Hammock Artist of the Year on their 2005 Somewhere Cold Awards Hall of Fame list.[10]

Hammock's debut live performance was at Chuck Dodson's Gallery@404B in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on August 3, 2007, at the after-party of an event to honor the Icelandic artistic duo Jónsi & Alex. The band wrote all new music purposely for the gig, and used loop pedals so the two could perform alone.[11] The material was the basis of their third studio album Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow, named after a piece of art by Jónsi & Alex who agreed to produce the cover art for it.[11] The album was recorded live in its entirety, save for a few overdubs.[12][13] In 2008, Hammock performed at the Wordless Music Series in New York City with fellow ambient duo Stars of the Lid.[14]

2010–2016

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In May 2010, Hammock released their fourth album Chasing After Shadows...Living with the Ghosts. The group wanted a change in musical direction as they developed a new fanbase with the previous album, so they incorporated orchestral arrangements and fuller instrumentation on their new material. Hammock said the change was "a natural progression ... that's the voice you have to follow".[15] They amassed 50 potential tracks for the record, using what fit its overall mood the best.[15] That December, Hammock released their fourth EP, Longest Year, a beatless and wordless mini-album that was born out of the difficulty the band faced in 2010, including the near-total destruction of Byrd's home in the 2010 Tennessee floods.[12] By the end of that year, Hammock had performed just twice in Nashville.[15]

Over the next few years, Hammock expanded their musical horizons with a variety of collaborations and the addition of more of an orchestral aspect to their music. Hammock collaborated with singer-songwriter Matthew Ryan on the single "Like New Year's Day", released on January 1, 2011.[16] On March 8, 2011, the band issued a cover of Catherine Wheel's "Black Metallic" as a digital single, featuring vocals by Byrd's wife, Christine Glass (the couple had previously collaborated as a duo, GlassByrd). On October 5, 2011, they released a four-song collaboration EP with Steve Kilbey and Tim Powles of the Church called Asleep in the Downlights.[17][18]

On July 6, 2012, Hammock announced that mastering had started for their sixth LP and first double album, Departure Songs. It was released on October 2, 2012.[19]

On May 10, 2013, they announced that they had begun mixing a new record, Oblivion Hymns. The album was released on November 26, 2013, and was a notable departure from their previously guitar-focused sound, adding a neoclassical element with a full orchestra, children's choir, and vocals from Timothy Showalter (Strand of Oaks).[12]

On July 1, 2014, Hammock reissued their fully ambient 2005 album The Sleep-Over Series (Volume 1), following it up with a sequel, The Sleepover Series, Volume 2, on September 23, 2014.

Hammock's ninth album, Everything and Nothing, was released on April 1, 2016. Irish music and politics magazine Hot Press said in its review that the album is "the aural equivalent of a flotation tank... an album to lose yourself in completely".[20] Haydon Spenceley, reviewing for Drowned in Sound, stated that the album has "clarity, purpose, drivenness, even, not words that would necessarily be associated with this stellar band's earlier work... This is music of transcendent beauty, but with an added level of dissonance that grabs the attention in a way that hasn't ever seemed to be Hammock's stock in trade before". Spenceley also claimed that Everything and Nothing is Hammock's "most immediate, most sonorous and beautiful album to date".[21]

2017–present

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On June 21, 2017, Hammock announced via their Facebook page that their 10th album, Mysterium, would be released on August 25, 2017. They also released a video of the first single, "Things of Beauty Burn".[22] In 2018, Hammock released the follow-up to 2017's Mysterium with the album, Universalis. In 2019, Hammock released the follow-up to 2019's Universalis with the album, Silencia, thus concluding their self proclaimed "trilogy" [23]

In 2017, Hammock composed the score for Kogonada's critically acclaimed film Columbus, which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.[24][25]

In 2018, Hammock released an album, We Will Rise Again, that "reimagined" work composed by Dan Romer for the 2017 videogame, Far Cry 5.[26]

In 2020, Hammock released a remaster of their 2010 EP, Longest Year, with a physical release as well as new album artwork.[27]

In 2024, Hammock released the album A Hopeful Sign in collaboration with American rock band Yellowcard – a collection of 9 pre-existing Yellowcard songs re-interpreted with new instrumentation by Hammock.[28]

Other projects

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Since 2005, Byrd has occasionally recorded as a member of the band the Choir.[29]

Hammock guested on the track "Melting the Frozen Sea Within Us" by Amman/Josh, which appeared on that band's 2010 EP Places.

Hammock collaborated with Matthew Perryman Jones in 2013 on the song "Unknown", released as part of the Nashville Indie Spotlight 2014 compilation album.[30]

Building on their 2011 collaboration with Matthew Ryan, Hammock announced a side project named the Summer Kills in March 2018.[31] After seven years of work, the trio's first album, Last Night We Became Swans (mixed by Peter Katis) was released on April 27, 2018.[32][33]

Discography

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Studio albums

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EPs

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  • Stranded Under Endless Sky (2005, Hammock Music/Republic of Texas Recordings/Somewherecold Records)
  • North West East South (2010, Hammock Music)
  • Chasing After Shadows... Living With the Ghosts (Outtakes) (2010, Hammock Music)
  • Longest Year (2010, Hammock Music)
  • Asleep in the Downlights (2011, Hammock Music)
  • Repeat / Texture (2018, Hammock Music)

Singles

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  • "Like New Year's Day" with Matthew Ryan (2011, Hammock Music)
  • "Black Metallic" feat. Christine Glass (Catherine Wheel cover) (2011, Hammock Music)
  • "Borrowing the Past (Hammock Remix)" (2012, Hammock Music)
  • "From the Dust... We Ran to Greet the Dawn" (2013, Hammock Music)
  • "Baritone Recovery" (2014, Hammock Music)
  • "Sleepover 1 • Sleepover.FM" (2014, self-released)
  • "10.08.14 (Blood Moon)" (2014, self-released)
  • "04.04.15 (Moon Blood)" (2015, self-released)
  • "09.28.15 (Blood Moon)" (2015, self-released)
  • "04.15.14 (Moon Blood)" (2015, self-released)
  • "The Night You Caught Fire / Clinging" (2018, self-released)
  • "Floating World / Snowburn" (2018, self-released)
  • "Moon Blood (01.20.2019)" (2019, self-released)
  • "Into the Blank / Madi" (2020, self-released)
  • "Spinning Through Us" (2020, self-released)
  • "I'm a Sensory Explosion" feat. Lumenette (2022, self-released)

Compilation albums

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  • The Sleepover Series, Volume One (2005, Hammock Music; reissued 2014)
  • EPs, Singles and Remixes (2013, self-released)
  • An Introduction to Hammock (2013, self-released)
  • The Sleepover Series, Volume Two (2014, Hammock Music)
  • An Introduction to Hammock, Volume 2 (2015, self-released)
  • A Hopeful Sign (with Yellowcard) (2024, Equal Vision Records)

Soundtracks

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Selected compilation appearances

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  • "Black Metallic" on Never Lose That Feeling Volume Two (2006, Club AC30)
  • "Sora" on For Nihon (2011, Unseen Records)
  • "The More You Drink From the Well... The Higher the Waters Will Rise" on ...And Darkness Came (2012, Headphone Commute)
  • "In the Shape of Longing" on Disquiet, Vol.1 (2017, Unseen Music)
  • "Displacement" on For Ukraine (Volume 1) (2022, Headphone Commute)

Music videos

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  • "Mono No Aware" (2008)
  • "Breathturn" (2010)
  • "Longest Year" (2010)
  • "Dark Beyond the Blue" (2010)
  • "One Another" (2012)
  • "Tape Recorder" (2012)
  • "Cold Front" (2012)
  • "Tornado Warning" (2012)
  • "Mute Angels" (2012)
  • "In the Middle of This Nowhere" (2013)
  • "I Could Hear the Water at the Edge of All Things" (2013)
  • "Sinking Inside Yourself" (2014)
  • "Blankets of Night" (2015)
  • "Things of Beauty Burn" (2017)
  • "Circular As Our Way" (2019)
  • "Afraid to Forget" (2019)
  • "I Can Almost See You" (2021)
  • "Procession / Love in the Void" (2022)
  • "Release" (2023)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Secretly Distribution". Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  2. ^ "Hammock: Raising Your Voice... Trying to Stop an Echo - Album Reviews". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  3. ^ "Hammock: Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow - Album Reviews". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  4. ^ "Hammock: Chasing After Shadows... Living With the Ghosts - Album Reviews". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  5. ^ "AllMusic Guide: Hammock Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Diaz, Brent (August 29, 2005). "ANDREW THOMPSON AND MARC BYRD OF HAMMOCK". Somewhere Cold. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Kyle, Joseph (January 11, 2007). "Interviews - Hammock". Press Play, Record. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "The Endless Sky: An Interview with Hammock". Archived from the original on 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  9. ^ Tasselmyer, Andrew (March 4, 2024). "Sound Methods 005: Marc Byrd". Sound Methods Podcast. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Lamoreaux, Jason T. (December 1, 2005). "Somewhere Cold Awards 2005". Somewhere Cold. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2005.
  11. ^ a b Klisiewicz, Elizabeth (August 22, 2012). "An Interview with Hammock, Stargazers Extraordinaire]". The Big Takeover. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "Hammock Music: About". Hammockmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  13. ^ "Paste Magazine: Hammock gets artsy for first concert ever". Pastemagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  14. ^ "Stars of the Lid and Hammock: Wordless Music". Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  15. ^ a b c Andujar, Carlos (December 10, 2010). "Trying to Feel the Winter... A Conversation With Hammock". Synconation. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  16. ^ "MP3 At 3PM: Matthew Ryan & Hammock". Magnetmagazine.com. 23 January 2011.
  17. ^ "Hammock Music > Asleep in the Downlights". Hammockmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  18. ^ "Hammock: Asleep in the Downlights". Pastemagazine.com. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  19. ^ hammock [@hammockmusic] (6 July 2012). "Hammock-Departure Songs. Out October 2012. Jim Demain mastering at Yes Master" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Newsdesk, The Hot Press. "Album Review: Hammock-Everything & Nothing". Hotpress.com. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  21. ^ "Album Review: Hammock - Everything and Nothing". DrownedInSound.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Hammock announces new album 'Mysterium', first single, and preorder details". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  23. ^ "Hammockband on Instagram: "After three albums in three years, Silencia's release closes our trilogy. A journey of shattering, rebuilding, and quiet acceptance. Thank you for traveling with us. Streaming now on @spotify. Click the link in our bio to listen."".
  24. ^ "Columbus (2017) - IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  25. ^ Berkshire, Geoff (30 January 2017). "Film Review: 'Columbus'". Variety.com. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Far Cry 5: We Will Rise Again soundtrack". hammockmusic.com/. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Hammockband on Instagram: "To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Longest Year, on December 4th we'll be releasing a remastered edition with new mixes. As part of this release, the EP will be available on vinyl for the first time ever. In addition to all five original tracks, Longest Year includes the never before heard song, "EveryWhen." Available to stream now - LINK IN BIO"".
  28. ^ Evans, Stuart (2024-02-08). "ALBUM REVIEW: Yellowcard + Hammock - A Hopeful Sign | XS Noize | Latest Music News". www.xsnoize.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  29. ^ Lloyd, Shari. "A Feature of The Phantom Tollbooth". Tollbooth.org.
  30. ^ "Hammock & Matthew Perryman Jones: Unknown". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  31. ^ "The Summer Kills". Matthewryanonline.com. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  32. ^ "About". Thesummerkills.com. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  33. ^ Klisiewicz, Elizabeth. "The Big Takeover: The Summer Kills - Last Night We Became Swans".
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