Hope for Agoldensummer
"Ariadne Thread"
hopeforagoldensummer.com

   

AUGUSTA, GA - The slow melodic sounds of Athens-based Hope for Agoldensummer delivers an experimental sound with Southern sensibilities, marking the female trio as something both unique and mysteriously familiar. Formed around six years ago, Hope for Agoldensummer has made a name for themselves with their hauntingly moody indie rock.  Their newest release "Ariadne Thread" once again unleashes the band’s signature sound as a follow-up to their first album.

"Ariadne Thread" opens the 17-track album with “Hold Me Close in the Hallway.” Starting with a gospel-ish slow buildup in the vein of old school vocal groups, this song leads right in to “Katelina, Dear.” From this moment forward, the slow, moody sound grabs the listener.  This particular song reminds a little of Tom Waits’ "Blue Valentine." The symphony and New Orleans street musician sounds coalesce into a spooky, ghostly, lonesome merry-go-round jingle. Other tracks such as “Roadsigns” bring back the 1990’s singer-songwriter sound but with updated sensibilities and far more poetic lyrics, almost like a country song about a broken heart that has completely shattered into a million pieces. “Watermelon Heart” continues on the traditional country sound while the spectral warbling saw on “Don’t Turn Away” brings out the chills. And still, songs like “Last Summer’s Beach Trip” remind one of Sonic Youth or the Velvet Underground in the audio assault of background noise of waves crashing against the breakers. It’s a truly beautiful track.

Complete and disturbing, "Ariadne Thread" shows just how cultured, raw, stripped down, and yet cerebral Hope for Agoldensummer really are. At times scary and intense yet sweet and majestically pretty, every song on "Ariadne Thread" leaves the indelible mark of a band that can both embrace experimentalism, taking it right to the cusp of too much, before bringing it back and splicing it with folky orchestral poetry. This makes Hope for Agoldensummer splendidly unique, wild, and interestingly enough, accessible to everyone.