William Hut

Versus the end of fashion park

07/03/2005

"Versus the end of fashion park" is the second solo album from William Hut. Based in Bergen in Norway,Hut will be coming to Barnsley on the 6th of March to play a set at "Jamplant"@ theCitrusRooms. The album is warmly sad and high on heartbreak.

The first track instantly reminds me of Tom McCrae. His angelic voice recalls Michael Stipe at his most engaged and he pumps just the right amount of epic grandeur into scorched, lyrically subversive torch songs like "Twin Town". "It's The Breeze" "Remember" slithers sound-wise from Cocteau Twins to Ornette Coleman, while "Black" gleams with "My lips have been sober/ since I met her in october."

It's all really nicely done it's a mix up of sparse acoustic numbers very much on a Tom McCrae vibe and some more upbeat electrified songs a bit like David Gray. You could compare it to so many other similar artists which is a shame cos it tends to take the shine off for me, it's just a bit too familiar in too many places to be able to stand out above any of the aforementioned artists.

Hut obviously has a talent for writing these personal melancholic statements in music. With some lovely orchestral touches, warm string sections throughout and a beauty woodwind section on track ten. The album drifts by with ease it's not intrusive in anyway. I look forward to catching him play at Citrus rooms it's encouraging to know that Barnsley can be host to up and coming artists who have quality to put on show. We should keep it coming and support gigs like this all we can to help raise the profile of our town as a place people want to add to their tour dates.