If there's a place where complex mathematics, robotic efficiency, heavy athleticism and stoned hippies can effectively congeal, it's here in Hella. Not only that, but somehow this confusing combination neither sucks, nor brings back sadistic high school memories. The math is, as always with Hella, especially relevant. Rather than the usual synthetic approach to music, where one guy with one talent shakes hands with one other guy with one other talent, Hella opt for an analytic angle. Two guys, separated into two different discs, with one each. The outcome of the equation is a comprehensive, weirdly holistic result with no pesky remainders. Spencer Seim's half is a beautiful controlled mess of guitar, sampled noises and more momentary melody than Hella is used to, called Chirpin Hard. Zach Hill's Chuch Gone Wild is more recognisably Hella, but with a few extra demons that revels a little in a goth-y yearning while maintaining that off-the-charts amazing drumming that probably won you over in the first place. Surprisingly present are actual human voices on each disc. Seim fits distorted voices into his often gentle guitar patchwork seamlessly, and shockingly, Hill actually sings on tracks like the ridiculously listenable "Movement 4: Imaginary Friends. Neither method seems out of place, and is in fact a welcome and possibly necessary addition that feels in accord with the character of the whole affair. The nature of the project dissolves any concerns about the risk of a two-disc release, and anyway Hella are certainly ready for such an endeavour.
Did you collaborate on anything or play on each other's respective recordings? Were they written and recorded entirely separately or in relative seclusion? Seim: Zach or Spencer never heard what might come out of each other and what did, before it did. You know?
What is it that makes this release a "Hella" release and not a "Spenser Seim and Zach Hill" release? Why were they released together rather than separately as solo projects? Hill: It is an experimentation within our purpose musical and non-musical. It is an example to both sides of thought within the Voltron of Hella. 1+1=1. It is very so Hella's record. This will reveal itself upon sounds. We are still female muscle and heavy paper, cameo; song: worrrd up!
(Suicide Squeeze)Did you collaborate on anything or play on each other's respective recordings? Were they written and recorded entirely separately or in relative seclusion? Seim: Zach or Spencer never heard what might come out of each other and what did, before it did. You know?
What is it that makes this release a "Hella" release and not a "Spenser Seim and Zach Hill" release? Why were they released together rather than separately as solo projects? Hill: It is an experimentation within our purpose musical and non-musical. It is an example to both sides of thought within the Voltron of Hella. 1+1=1. It is very so Hella's record. This will reveal itself upon sounds. We are still female muscle and heavy paper, cameo; song: worrrd up!
