Hundred Waters - The Moon Rang Like a Bell

Hundred Waters
The Moon Rang Like a Bell
26 May 2014
OWSLA

4 stars out of 5

 

The Moon Rang Like a Bell is the second LP by Florida’s indie electronic outfit Hundred Waters. Concentrating on Nicole Miglis’s singing rather than on the beats, Hundred Waters are free to build songs around the vocals, resulting in music that takes on some odd and interesting shapes. When a song comes along that does center on the beat (“[Animal]”), Miglis still propels its ebbs and flows with the gravity of her voice.

“Cavity” and “Out Alee” are almost perfect dreamy electronic ambient pop: floating over you like a cloud, but bringing the occasional zap of lightning so you don’t get too comfortable. “Chambers (Passing Train)” pulls everything apart to explore a less structured electronica, while “Seven White Horses” is rock ‘n’ roll without the guitars. “Xtalk” borders on neo-soul territory, while “No Sound” is a frigid Baltic winter, full of frozen Viking goddesses and the low rumble of a distant ice breaker.

With The Moon Rang Like a Bell, Hundred Waters have planted their flag firmly in the easy-come, easy-go land of indie electronica, proving they are not just passing through on their way to other places, and making it difficult for fickle listeners to pass them by without taking notice.

reviewed by Richard Krueger