Aficionados of dreamy, jangly guitar, notably if it reminds previous heads of the “school rock” of yore—like early R.E.M. or any variety of different teams, obscure to common, starting from North Carolina to New Zealand and past—are intimately and fondly accustomed to the involuntary “shut eyes/bob head” response upon listening.
Mild Below Restore, the most recent EP from Cincinnati’s prolific Hamlet (brainchild of singer/songwriter/guitarist Chris Wales) invokes the very best of that period/ilk; songs like “It’s Been A Landline Sort Of Winter” and “The White Stars” may’ve completely match any college radio station’s playlist again within the day, as may the harder-rocking “The Price Of Your Moon.” However Hamlet isn’t a tribute act or purposely aping any model; it’s simply how these extremely gratifying tunes turned out. Wales additionally cites a special inspiration.
“All of us have our influences that creep into what we do, and my love of all issues Robert Pollard can by no means be tamped down,” says Wales. “He’s most likely why so many individuals I do know write and file. However it’s actually enjoyable to listen to what folks hear in your stuff—Elliott Smith is one, and somebody mentioned Experience the opposite day—particularly really goal ears.” (Author’s notice: Probably not listening to the Experience.)
Hamlet’s final effort, 2024’s full-length Camp Underground, was a extra contemplative affair, simply Wales and his guitar, each sounding a tad downcast. He ended up with a band outing—together with strings all through from Kate Wakefield (Lung)—on Mild Below Restore on the behest of an previous pal.
“Final October or so, my good pal (drummer) Jason Brief mainly mentioned, ‘Hey man, let me know in your subsequent undertaking if you would like me and (bassist Dan) Nolan to work with you,’” says Wales. “That was the recent motivation to go greater and extra upbeat on this outing. Even my spouse famous, ‘Wow, these songs aren’t as unhappy.’”
Wales considers Hamlet—named after a road in Columbus, the place he lived from 1996 to 2003 and commenced writing and recording (“Our home was proper subsequent to a functioning Surprise Bread bakery, so it may’ve gone worse”)—to be solely a basement undertaking, although he admits it could be enjoyable to play this materials dwell, maybe with Brief and Nolan, each members of wonderful multi-city band Joseph Airport. Both method, his modus operandi is unlikely to vary—he’s going to be down there anyway.
“That’s known as hiding out,” laughs Wales. “Having twin 16-year-old ladies and a 14-year-old boy whose pursuits have moved far past hanging out with their mother and father permits for ample rock-room time. Often, it’s me bugging them to hang around.” [Hamlet]
—Matt Hickey
