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Kristin Hersh: Hips And Makers
Vinyl | CD | DL available here
Released 3rd May
Back in 1994 which was a vintage year for releases, Kristin Hersh released one of THE perfect debut albums that still stands the test of time today. Wayne AF Carey reviews…
For anyone of a certain age 1994 was a defining year for many artists back then. The list of great albums released is mind boggling with the mix of Americana from the likes of Hole, Dinosaur Jr, Henry Rollins, Green Day, Beck, Beastie Boys, Nas and The Notorious BIG to name a few. Then the defining British albums by artists such as Oasis, Blur, Portishead, The Prodigy and The Cranberries, some of which are still deemed as classics. The stand out for me that year was the beautiful haunting stripped back music from ex Throwing Muses singer Kristin Hersh. This was my most played record of the year and I still go back regularly as a reminder of how much this album affected me back then, even to the point of catching her live that year in HMV on Market St, Manchester which had me in tears.
From the opening acoustic refrain of the beautiful Your Ghost, full of strings and the backing vocals of Michael Stipe you know you’re in for an emotional journey from the start. It’s the most emotional start to a debut album you’ll ever hear. Beestung is a piano led stunner, a simple bit of perfection with the crazy lyrics that come from the mind of a imperfect talent. Teeth is an acoustic masterpiece and from listening to the lyrics 30 years later it comes across as a story of a bad relationship going off the rails. “My hairdo’s truly evil, I’m not sure it’s mine. You’re so tall”
Sundrops is almost orchestral and Kristin keeps the lyrics simple over a baritone violin that cuts and scrapes through her mind. Sparky is just a pure folk campfire number that cuddles you like a warm blanket before Houdini Blues comes in with that immense voice that shone through her Throwing Muses phase. A shimmering piece of orchestral folk that makes you shiver. A Loon is just a howling blues number that Courtney Love would kill for. She’s in Joni Mitchell territory here and no one else could steal that crown more than Kristin Hersh. It’s the mellow break that cuts you up just over half way through that shows the sheer beauty of a tortured soul.
Velvet Days gives us more violin backing the lovely acoustic guitar with smooth vocals from the enigmatic voice of Hersh which kisses your cheeks with a scarred love. Close Your Eyes is a pour your heart out piece of music, an acoustic gothic number that’s simple yet hits you with her powerful voice. Me And My Charms is just a stunning tug of love song that touches you. “Do I want you back or do I?” It’s another example of her cryptic lyrics that keep you guessing. Tuesday Night goes all 50’s Blues again with Kristin gently plucking her guitar like a veteran, yet adding her soulful mournful vocals into the mix which brings the old Joni back.
The Letter is brilliant stuff. “I am turning round in circles and I’m spinning on my knuckles’ This is the most personal mental health song I ever heard in those years and still resonates to this day with our recent crisis of no help with our shitty services in the UK. Lurch just lurches into the next song… The Cuckoo is a masterpiece about alcohol addiction and getting away from it. The Jack of Daniels, drinking wine, celebrating (or not) the 4th of July. Closing track Hips and Makers is just the icing on the cake to a true masterpiece. A slow acoustic strum rocking around the ocean and every bird flying over her sublime vocals.
The majesty of this reissue however is the B Sides and the string editions starting with the strong acoustic led Hysterical Bending which is a stripped back powerful song with power from those emotional vocals. The Key is an astonishing vocal track that brings tears to your eyes with the lines of ‘dancing all night’ and the crushing vocals of Hersh making you weep. Uncle Jane and Aunt Kiyoti is just beautiful. An acoustic piece that talks about war and peace in one foul swoop. When The Levee Breaks is the best reimagining of a Led Zep song going. John Bonham has been fucked off here by a harmonica and the cool as fuck voice of Kristin slicing it up with the Blues style they nicked in the first place.
The last six tracks consist of string versions of tracks from the original album, showing they could be aired in places like The Bridgewater Hall or The RNCM oop North which she prefers or similar places daaarnn South. The thing with Hersh is she is an actual legend that you can give the moniker to. From her years with The Throwing Muses to her solo career she has the songwriting ability that matches the likes of Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin in our underground world of music. She should never be classed as underground in my eyes. A true talent who the kids should be ashamed of missing. Fuck your Taylor Swift’s and Myley Cyrus. This is the real deal…
Words by Wayne Carey, Reviews Editor for Louder Than War. His author profile is here
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