Of all the bands branded with the nebulous "post-rock" tag, England's Bark Psychosis achieved the rarest balance between group musicality and post-production programming. Recorded with a large ensemble of musicians but pieced together with a computer and a sampler, HEX is a seamless tapestry--a miraculous album that never forfeits its supernatural aura to the sterility of digital design. Graham Sutton and Daniel Gish elaborate on such timeless models as A.R. Kane's 69, The Blue Nile's A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS, and Talk Talk's LAUGHING STOCK, filling HEX's wide-screen canvas with emotional song-craft and technological refinement.
HEX favors the elegant and understated, presenting an extraordinarily filmic backdrop against which piano, guitar, and vocal phrases, wisps of instrumentation, and Mark Simnett's percussive cascades fall like December snow. The secret tensions that underscore Bark Psychosis' shimmering quiescence first manifest themselves in John Ling's sinuous, dub-modulated basslines, occasionally erupting in such rapturous displays of bittersweet beauty as "A Street Scene" and "Eyes & Smiles." Other breathtaking flourishes include ribbon-fine feedback, quenching showers of vibes, and Del Crabtree's electrifying, Miles-style trumpet. Alas, even Bark Psychosis couldn't top HEX. The group disbanded, with Sutton finding fame in the drum-and-bass arena as Boymerang.
Recorded from March to November 1993.
Engineers include: Nick Wollage, Mog, Mike Long.
Composer: Daniel Gish.
Personnel: Graham Sutton (vocals, guitar, melodica, piano, programming, sampler); Louise Fuller (violin); John Metcalfe (viola); Ivan McCready (cello); Phil Brown , Phill Brown (flute); Del Crabtree (trumpet); Daniel Gish (piano, keyboards, sampler); Peter Beresford (vibraphone); Mark Simnett (drums, percussion); Dave Ross (djembe); Neil Aldridge (triangle, programming); John Ling (percussion, programming, sampler).
Audio Mixers: Daniel Gish; Roy Spong; Bark Psychosis.
Recording information: 03/1993-11/1996.
Photographers: Toby McFarlan Pond; Alastair Thain; Peter Morris.
Unknown Contributor Role: Duke Quartet.
Arrangers: John Ling; Graham Sutton; Daniel Gish; Mark Simnett; Bark Psychosis.
Bark Psychosis: Graham Sutton (vocals, guitar, melodica, piano, Hammond organ, samples, programming); Daniel Gish (piano, Hammond organ, keyboards); John Ling (bass, percussion, samples, programming); Mark Simnett (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Louisa Fuller, Rick Coster (violin); John Metcalfe (viola); Ivan McCready (cello); Phil Brown (flute); Del Crabtree (trumpet); Pete Beresford (vibraphone); Neil Aldridge (triangle, programming); Dave Ross (Djembe).
Alternative Press (8/94, p.73) - "...too unpredictable, too unconcerned with current trends and, finally, just too good for most individuals..." Melody Maker (2/12/94, p.30) - "...HEX is the work of a band nourished by constant evolution and is unquestionably divine....a gorgeously intense 50 minutes..." NME (Magazine) (2/19/94, p.43) - 8 - Excellent - "...Bark Psychosis are nothing less than completely captivating....a thoroughly marvelous record...."
Best post-rock album in the world! This is the greatest post-rock album I've ever heard,together with Slint's "Spiderland" and June Of 44's "Tropics & Meridians".Calm and obscure,not as obscure as Slint,though.
I absolutely love it. Submitted by talkabouttheblues (Rome,Italyb) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
After Hex has played... ...I'm left with a profound feeling of calm, and clarity...like I had learned something important - A beautiful release. Submitted by Me (Helsinki, Finland) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Beautiful alternative classic Bark Psychosis have remained relatively unproductive since this debut album. Mainman Graham Sutton returning only with the follow-up "Codename: Dustsucker" a decade later in 2004.
"Hex" is a subtle album of restrained beauty. Although richly textured everything is held back to the point of near silence. This album (together with Talk Talk's "Laughing Stock" and "Spirit Of Eden" albums) is a milestone in ambient jazz-influenced (post-)rock. Submitted by rabs (Esbjerg, Denmark) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
Best post-rock album in the world!
Beautiful alternative classic
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