M. C. Taylor’s shape shifting collective, Hiss Golden Messenger, is very like a ship whose course is set by its captain’s moods and emotions. Pre release talk of Terms Of Surrender being, “Taylor’s journey through a tumultuous year of trauma and psychological darkness, hoping and working towards redemption and healing, and the conflicting draw of home and movement,” perhaps led some to expect a dark and brooding work. It’s true that there are moments here when Taylor is addressing some meaty issues (and that’s not something he’s shied away from before) but the album’s voyage is at time glorious with Taylor’s winning combination of glistening folk, rock, blues and soul engaging from start to finish. Continue reading “Hiss Golden Messenger “Terms Of Surrender” (Merge Records, 2019)”
Tag: Hiss Golden Messenger
Hiss Golden Messenger announces UK dates
The eclectic Durham, North Carolina outfit Hiss Golden Messenger aka MC Taylor have announced details of a six-date UK tour in December. The announcement comes hot on the heels of the new song ‘Happy Birthday, Baby’ a month before the upcoming release of their seventh studio album, ‘Terms of Surrender’. You can hear the track below. Continue reading “Hiss Golden Messenger announces UK dates”
Hiss Golden Messenger release new track from forthcoming album – Listen
North Carolina americana band Hiss Golden Messenger have released a new song called ‘Happy Birthday, Baby’ a month before the release of their forthcoming seventh studio album ‘Terms of Surrender’. Frontman M.C. Taylor told RS: “It’s mostly a love letter to [my daugher], part apology, part plea for forgiveness, and part recounting of the day she was born, when all the roads boiled over with rainwater and thunder and lightning filled the air. There are also many secret things in this song that only my family knows about.” ‘Terms of Surrender’ comes out on September 21st.
Americana acts cover David Berman songs in tribute – Watch
With thanks to BrooklynVegan for highlighting this – tributes are still coming in for David Berman who died last week (we now know sadly from suicide) and some artists have covered songs from Silver Jews over the weekend, including Phosphorescent who performed ‘Trains Across the Sea’ from the 1994’s album ‘Starlight Walker’ and Hiss Golden Messenger who covered the wonderful ‘Dallas’ from 1996’s ‘The Natural Bridge’ album. You can watch both of those performances below. The Brooklyn band Activity, Pennsylvania’s The Districts and the National have also covered Berman’s songs in recent days. Continue reading “Americana acts cover David Berman songs in tribute – Watch”
Hiss Golden Messenger announce new record “Terms of Surrender”
The always delightful North Carolina band Hiss Golden Messenger have announced the release of their anticipated twelfth new album ‘Terms of Surrender’ which will be released on the uber-cool Merge Records on September 20th. Following a tough year and with the help of Jenny Lewis, The National and his regular bandmates, the new record is described as”part apology, part plea, part love letter” and a record “that mirrors the searching spirit of the music.” Continue reading “Hiss Golden Messenger announce new record “Terms of Surrender””
Hiss Golden Messenger hits the UK for summer shows
The North Carolina band Hiss Golden Messenger have announced that they’re playing two UK shows this summer. It follows on from the release of ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’ which came out towards the end of last year. M.C. Taylor and his throng will be playing dates at Manchester’s lovely Deaf Institute on Monday 27th August and the almost as lovely Islington Assembly Hall in London on Wednesday 29th August. Tickets are available now, as the kids say. In the meantime, why not enjoy new tune ‘Passing Clouds’ with all proceeds to Everytown For Gun Safety. Continue reading “Hiss Golden Messenger hits the UK for summer shows”
Hiss Golden Messenger “Domino (Time Will Tell)” – Listen
M.C. Taylor’s band Hiss Golden Messenger have a new album “Hallelujah Now” which arrives September 22nd and he’s dropped a couple of advance tracks from it online including the track Domino (Time Will Tell). He told Uncut: “‘Domino’ is an acknowledgement that what I do for a living is, on its face, funny. But this life has a pull for me; travelling for a living has been existentially good. It’s hard, and hard things are good, I think. When you travel a lot, so many perceived differences between people are flattened, and you realize how small the world is, and how everybody wants the same things—love, warmth, shelter, food, happiness. Things that are simple in description but also deeply rich and, for many, hard to get at.”
Hiss Golden Messenger announces new album
Some nice news this morning from Consequence of Sound on an AUK favourite. Awesome cover art too. They report: “Last October, North Carolina folk artist M.C. Taylor released his latest album as Hiss Golden Messenger, Heart Like a Levee. Now, less than 12 months later, the indie folk songwriter is back with the follow-up. It’s titled Hallelujah Anyhow and due out September 22nd through Merge Records. Continue reading “Hiss Golden Messenger announces new album”
Hiss Golden Messenger to release series of live recordings
We’re big fans of HGM here at AUK so this is a nice little treat to see the month out. Paste report: “Taking a cue from the Grateful Dead’s legendary Dick’s Picks series, Hiss Golden Messenger are launching their own collection of live recordings. Affectionately dubbed “Parker’s Picks” after Warren Parker who joined the band on their fall tour of the U.S. to record the shows, the series kicked off today with the release of the band’s performance at The Parish in Austin on Oct. 18. Continue reading “Hiss Golden Messenger to release series of live recordings”