The Second Coming Was a Moonrise

Now over twenty years together as a working duo, Hammock continue their remarkable string of sonic explorations with The Second Coming Was A Moonrise. The title captures a time of exploration, when in his late teens, Byrd and a friend, under the influence of psychedelics, mistook the moonrise for the second coming of Christ. Byrd and Thompson, both primarily guitarists, have found their musical bonds becoming ever stronger as their shared work grows even more dramatic and richer over the years, pursuing a feeling of sweeping, shimmering sonic awe that can never simply be summed up as anything other than itself. The Second Coming Was A Moonrise continues those sensations of exploration, feeling at once like one of their most intimate releases while exploring the rich sense of majesty that they can create in turn. Much of The Second Coming is instrumental or only adds wordless vocal sighs and textures, though always with titles chosen with intent. Byrd revisited more of his drug-fueled escapes with “Chemicals Make You Small,” which features two notable guests: Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips, adding vocals and keyboards. Other returning guest performers include regular collaborator Matt Kidd of Slow Meadow adding strings and guitar, Deserta’s Matthew Doty on synths and guitar, Lumenette’s Christine Byrd adding angelic vocals, Chad Howat playing keyboards and bass and Jake Finch adding some remarkable drumming.