Hope Of The States - Blood Meridian

by Anthony Strutt

published: 28 / 3 / 2006

Label: Select Label
Format: 10"

Very limited new 10" single from the Hope of the States, which serves as a preview for their second album which is due out later this year

Review

'Blood Meridian' is a 10 inch vinyl only EP release. Limited to 2000 copies, it has already started to sell out and copies have started to sell for double its cost price. A preview to their second album, it sees the band return on fine form. The title track is moody and groovy, and assaults your senses. Well paced, it is not long before the whole track is on fire. 'Under the Wires' is much slower, has a distorted vocal from Sam Herlihy and a 1920's musical feel. It sounds very sad too. 'A Horse' sounds like a slower Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and has a tortured vocal. It is assisted by a melancholic violin. which as it progresses becomes more full on in sound. 'Drinkers on the Dry' is so quiet at the start that it is almost inaudioble. Again it is very sad, finding the band in Tindersticks territory. As it moves on, it becomes a ballad with beautiful arrangements, a little bit like Radiohead but with more talent.