Review: Micah P Hinson Presents The Holy Strangers
Micah P Hinson’s rich baritone is among my favourite things in music. It has often sounded like it belonged to a very different man to the skinny, scruffy punk whose mouth it emanated from, someone older, someone larger, someone with a worn, tired face, with years of experience etched into the lines. The stories I have read suggest that Micah P Hinson has indeed lived the life that his voice reflects and it is as though his voice has taken on those trials and tribulations whilst leaving his appearance untouched, The Larynx Of Dorian Gray perhaps. When I hear Micah P Hinson sing I hear heartbreak, longing and romance that I hear nowhere else. That languorous Texan drawl just sinks into the pit of your stomach sending seismic shudders that have the power to stop your heart.
This latest offering from Micah P Hinson has been two years in the making and was recorded on a collection of ancient analogue audio equipment. This is, of course, how he sounds best, the creaks, crackles and space is the perfect fit for his brand of narcoleptic, dreamlike Americana. Hinson describes the album as a “modern folk opera”, a concept album that tells the story of a wartime family from birth through a myriad of experience that includes love, murder, betrayal, war and suicide. The album moves from minimal instrumental pieces to lush, uplifting string laden torch songs as well as the traditional country sounding single, “Lover’s Lane”.
Micah P Hinson has once again produced an intimate, detailed record that gradually reveals its dusty beauty. One to sink into and just luxuriate in the wonderful mood and sound that is another excellent Micah P Hinson album.
Micah P. Hinson Presents The Holy Strangers is released 8th September 2017 on Full Time Hobby. Micah will be touring Europe throughout September and October with a full band.
19 September – Broadcast – Glasgow, UK *
20 September – Sneaky Pete’s – Edinburgh, UK *
21 September – The Cluny 2 – Newcastle, UK *
23 September – Deaf Institute – Manchester, UK *
24 September – The Crescent – York, UK *
25 September – Newhampton Arts Centre – Wolverhampton, UK *
26 September – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, UK *
27 September – The Cookie – Leicester, UK *
28 September – The Bullingdon – Oxford, UK *
29 September – The Portland Arms – Cambridge, UK *
30 September – The Globe – Cardiff, UK ^
01 October – The Lantern – Bristol, UK ^
02 October – Scala – London, UK ^
03 October – Komedia – Brighton, UK ^
05 October – Voodoo – Belfast, UK
06 October – Roisin Dubh – Galway
07 October – Cyprus Avenue – Cork, Ireland
08 October – Whelans – Dublin, Ireland
10 October – Zonnehuis – Amsterdam, Netherlands
11 October – Arenberg Shouwburg – Antwerp, Belgium
12 October – L’Aut Côté – Mouscron, Belgium
13 October – Sint-Elisabethkerk – Gent, Belgium
28 October – Studio Foce- Lugano, Switzerland
29 October – Coq D’Or – Olten, Switzerland
30 October – El Lokal – Zurich, Switzerland
31 October – Musicbox – Lisbon, Portugal
02 November – Razzmatazz – Barcelona, Spain
04 November – Cafe’ La Palma – Madrid, Spain
*Support from L.A. Salami
^ Support from The Saxophones
Review by Neil Martin
