Intense and mystical
author: Barbara L.
This CD (and especially Trying to Keep This) makes me want to drive to the midwest and run through the cornfields with shamen, gypsies, indian chiefs, frustrated corporate lawyers and disenchanted priests, all of us in pursuit of the great WHAT IF and WHAT CAN BE, and WHAT IS NOW. Buy it and listen to it over and over.
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Hanza refuses to stick to the expected tropes of any particular trend in indepen
author: Benjamin Edmonds (WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago)
It's often easy to fall into rock critic shorthand to describe album releases. I could easily categorize Open, by Will Hanza, as psychedelic rock, neo-progressive rock, or some other dubious category, but I won't do that. It's not so easy to place Open in a predetermined genre because Hanza refuses to stick to the expected tropes of any particular trend in independent music. At times Hanza's work is reminiscent of groundbreaking krautrock like Ash Ra Tempel or Popul Vuh, but in the same song he'll break into a blistering guitar solo that disrupts one's expectations and truly makes the music his own. At other times, I'm reminded of My Bloody Valentine, the Incredible String Band, Comus, or the Fairport Convention. Despite the utter dissimilarity between these bands' recordings, Hanza makes all these elements work. The key, of course, is that Hanza is following his own vision. While the artists I've mentioned might give you some minor insight into the elements that comprise Hanza's work, the songs on Open defy simplistic efforts at categorization and I am merely using these bands as reference points rather than implying they are direct influences. The best way to appreciate the joy that Will Hanza brings to his performances, and the only way to get a feel for the rich textures his compositions entail, is to listen to the album. It's rewarding in a way that I could never convey in words alone. The music is far more powerful.
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Subtle, deep, and thought-provoking
author: Bryan Vierow
I listened to this album a couple of times, driving mostly. Not really paying attention, not really getting it, but feeling like the fault lay with me, rather than the CD. When I finally sat down to really listen, the album came alive. This album pays special attention to layers, building on a solid base throughout. Especially good for falling into a trance and staring at the stars. Can't wait to see where he goes next.
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It's truly good stuff! Kid's got good chops!
author: Leslie Hyde
I had thought from the first two songs I heard, that he sounded a little like Jeff Buckley (and being a Jeff Buckley fan, it was a big plus for me). It's a mix of very soothing (but not boring) to almost ambiance, but also some rock. If I had to make a pie chart of how he sounded it would be something like this: 30% Jeff Buckley, 30% The Doors, and 20% TheThe ... and maybe 20% Pink Floyd in there!
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