Did you know there was a Kensington in the Greater London area of the UK? Well, thats not where Torontos Hoa Hoas (pronounced "wha whas) are from but Kensington Market is a good stand in it seems. With an anglophiliac flow that crosses swinging 60s psychedelia with a tougher shade of paisley, the group hit most of the right notes to shake the shag. Even the recordings slight fuzziness seems to support the groups kaleidoscopic credentials, reminding a little of Julian Copes early to mid-80s explorations of the same sound. Rumours of a more electrifying live presence offset the slight lethargy of the albums recordings. Overall, for a backtrack in rock, its still a good track to be on.
(Optical Sounds)The Hoa Hoa's
Sonic Bloom
BY Eric HillPublished Oct 25, 2008