Hex
Country of origin:
Australia/U.S.
Type of music generally:
Alternative/ethereal
Status:
No longer recording as a group. Final release, Vast Halos, 1990
See also:
Wikipedia's entry on the album, HexThe Ectophiles' Guide entry for Donnette Thayer, who is now doing solo work
Comparisons:
Kendra Smith's Guild of Temporal Adventurers, The Sundays, The Story. (mapravat@prairienet.org)
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
A group composed of Steve Kilbey from The Church, and Donnette Thayer.
Recommended first album:
Hex
Recordings:
Hex
Release info:
1989—First Warning (U.S.)—FW 001-4 (cassette), FiendCD 156 (CD)
Availability:
Unknown—probably out of print. Can be found used in the U.S.
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Donnette Thayer—voice and a few instruments
Steve Kilbey—all other instruments
Produced by:
Steve Kilbey
Comments:
The packaging for this, as well as the poster in an alternative record shop, make it look quite weird. It's not quite that weird in reality; indeed, it's actually pretty good.
In many ways, it's reminiscent of Kendra Smith's Guild of Temporal Adventurers EP, but not as heavy on the electronic effects. Some tracks put more echo on everything than others; I don't enjoy the ones that really pour the echo on as much as those that employ more moderation. But take away the echo and you still have some good, semisoft, somewhat ethereal alternative music with much in common with acts like The Sundays and The Story. A couple of the tracks, believe it or not, would not have been grossly out of place underpinning a slow dance during my high school years. Some parts reminded me of certain British Invasion recordings of the '60s. On side 2, they occasionally get carried away with outer-spaceish sound effects, but this isn't pervasive enough to sink the whole recording. On the whole, it's quite enjoyable. (mapravat@prairienet.org)"in the net" (amongst other songs on this album) are brilliant pieces. given a choice i'd take this one over vast halos. i really loved this album when it came out, but vast halos didn't excite me nearly as much at the time. these days, i rarely listen to either record, but i'd probably pull out the first simply for nostalgic reasons. (woj@smoe.org)
Wow—this album really sounds like a cross between the first eponymous The Moon Seven Times album, and Cocteau Twins. I found myself wondering if Donnette Thayer was channelling Lynn Canfield and Liz Frazer. Very mainstream ethereal rock. (Neile)
Vast Halos
Release info:
1990—Rykodisc—RCD 10186
Availability:
Unknown—probably out of print. Can be found used in the U.S.
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Donnette Thayer
Steve Kilbey—electrical impulse control
Jim McGrath—pounding, shaking and apple eating
Produced by:
Steve Kilbey
Comments:
Less compelling than Hex. (woj@smoe.org)Surprisingly, I disagree with woj on this one. I like the more pop angle this album takes and find the songs less dreamy and more catchy—more memorable and different than the first album. (Neile)
Thanks to Mitch Pravatiner for his work on this entry.
