Big HatCountry of origin:U.S. Type of music generally:Ethereal, experimental, alternative pop Status:Final album, Taqueria del Muerte (1994) See also:A Big Hat page Comparisons:Rainbirds? Her Majesty the Baby? Those may be a little far-fetched. There are some similarities with Preston Klik's new band, My Scarlet Life. (Neile) Covers/own material:Own General comments:Dramatic, strange, sometimes bombastic, musically inventive, sometimes piercingly beautiful music.Truly individual sound—a shade extreme, almost Gothic, imaginative, lively, sensual. Unusual instrumentation. (Neile) Recommended first album:selena at my window is probably the most easily accessible, though if they're the type of band you might like, you'll like all their albums. (Neile) Recordings:
shimmerRelease info:1991—C'est la Morte—CLM 038-2 Availability:Out of print Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Yvonne Bruner—lead vocals Guest artists:Lorien—alto sax Produced by:Big Hat and Kerry Brown Comments:This album starts with a voice commanding you to "open your mind" and that's just what this album does—and maybe what you need to do to truly appreciate this album and what Big Hat does. It's a maze of electronic background music, ethereal but earthy, too. It skirts the edges of being over-the-top, but because of their writers' great sense of song and sonic structure and Yvonne Bruner's anchoring voice it never is. And besides, you get the sense of how much they're enjoying the music they're creating. Truly shimmering music. (Neile) Inamorata EP+4Release info:1992—March Records—MAR 003 Availability:Out of print Ecto priority:Highly recommended if other Big Hat recordings appeal to you. Group members:Yvonne Bruner—lead vocals Produced by:Preston Klik, Kerry Brown, Billy Corgan, and John "Skippy" McFadden Comments:This is an EP plus four songs from their Hat Head 1990 cassette-only release. It's much lower-key than Shimmer, and perhaps not quite as compelling, but you will still like this if you're a fan of their other work. It's wonderful music to lose yourself in. "Country Death Song" is great fun, and the four songs included from Hat Head make me wish that were available on disc. (Neile) selena at my windowRelease info:1993—March Records—MAR 008 Availability:Out of print Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Yvonne Bruner—lead vocals, tin whistle Guest artists:John Kruth—flute, mandolin, jews harp Produced by:Preston Klik with Big Hat Comments:Again Big Hat exhibits its wonderful sense of song construction and inventive sound. This is just as wonderful as shimmer: a lively and compelling album. (Neile) Taqueria del MuerteRelease info:1994—One Man's Ceiling (is another man's floor) Records—OMC 004 Availability:Out of print Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Yvonne Bruner—lead vocals, tin whistle Guest artists:Eric Remschneider—cello Comments:How can this be Big Hat's final album? They were such a great band, and this album shows how great they were. It may not be my favourite of their albums (I have a fondness for Shimmer that will be hard to shake) but it's a wonderful, worthy album. This is Big Hat's swan song, and a truly beautiful and strange album. Includes a variety of wonderful Big Hat songs and cover of a Hank Williams song that surprised me at first but has really grown on me. (Neile) |
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