Hem Eveningland CD

Less than two years ago, Hem self-released their first album Rabbit Songs. The band outgrew their cult following as critics from Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone and NPR, among many others, praised the debut. The New York Times called them, "one of Manhattan's most promising...bands," and Magnet said, "American music doesn't get any better than this."In 2003 the band was signed to Dreamworks and recorded their second album for the now defunct major label. This anticipated sophomore recording, Eveningland is out now on Waveland/Rounder Records. Hem will be touring the U.S. beginning in November. Please see reverse for a full schedule.Recording for Eveningland began at Stratosphere Sound in New York City. Then the band flew to the Slovak Republic to record with the world famous Slovak Radio Orchestra. As bandleader Dan Messé explains, "I cannot imagine a more intense way to begin recording an album. From the moment we landed, the challenges, both musically and technically, were far beyond anything we had encountered before. It was an all-consuming, disorienting and ultimately magical time for us." Co-produced by band mates Dan Messé and Gary Maurer, Eveningland updates the rustic charm of Rabbit Songs by adding lush and textured arrangements to the mix.Messé admits, "These songs have more of a relationship to the `60s and early `70s. We're all in love with that Countrypolitan sound." The album ranges from the intimate, nostalgic feel of "Pacific Street" and "Receiver" to the bold and lush arrangements of "Firethief" and "Hollow." The result is an album that feels both immediate and timeless.The eight-piece is establishing themselves as one of the most distinctive and emotionally rewarding bands in American music. Entertainment Weekly described the music as "...beautifully recorded, warm sounding instruments" and described singer Sally Ellyson's voice as possessing "an understated confidence that wows with serene confidence."

Hem made a quiet stir with their 2001 release Rabbit Songs, notable for its lush orchestral backdrop and the casually sexy and innocent whisperings of vocalist Sally Ellyson. The fact that a gentle folk ensemble could even be heard amidst the Britneys and Xtinas of the new millennium is a testament to Hem's intangible qualities. Fans of their debut will be happy to hear that their 2004 follow-up Eveningland is completely devoid of techno drum loops, pitch-corrected teen angst, and the only super-famous guest star is the quietly brilliant (and unobtrusive) Josh Rouse. Clarinets provide reedy countermelodies to the sighing violins, and campfire acoustic guitars buoy Ellyson's lullabies along on burlap mists through dusty woodcut images. Largely orchestrated by songwriter Dan Messé, the songs retain the timeless quality of Appalachian folk music without ever sounding dated. The music occasionally ranges through blissful '70s AM pop (the Carpenters), with hints of the big British folk ensembles (Pentangle, Fairport Convention), and sighing pedal steel reminiscent of terrific '90s Americana (Cowboy Junkies, Mojave Three) and dreamy pop (Mazzy Star, the Sundays) all of which assemble on the same wooden front porch for a starry evening of acoustic introspection. The album begins subtly with the understated "The Fire Thief," moving slowly into the bright ballad "Receiver" and through a warmly subdued version of the Johnny Cash/June Carter duet "Jackson." The only fault with the album may be that it is not as surprising as their debut, and since it is simply more of the same terrific music, it doesn't broadside the listener in the same new and fresh way. The Hem project began as an attempt to create something lasting, and Eveningland proves that their debut was no fluke. While Hem will probably never appear on MTV (not even early in the morning) or get 30 spins a week on Hot Hits Z-101, their music may sneak into the hearts of unassuming listeners through NPR's All Things Considered and maybe on a CD samUncut (p.84) - 4 stars out of 5 - "With elegant string arrangements and an easy backporch gait..."
Dirty Linen (p.62) - "What you might here is the laid-back sensibilities of the Cowboy Junkies with a trace of the otherworldliness of Enya....Pure magic."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.97) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[F]rontwoman Sally Ellyson's velvet voice is as listenable as ever - clear, pure and innocently sophisticated."