Hoagland Hill - Faster Than You Think

All Music Guide

Adjectives for Hoagland Hill's first fully-formed CD project continue endlessly down the terrain carved by the headwords "eclectic," "electronic," and "experimental." Faster Than You Think brings to mind the meticulous synthscapes of Brain Eno, vocal jazz stylings of Chet Baker, narrative lyrics of Tom Waits, and late-night UFO-voodoo sensibility of radio host Art Bell. Hill effortlessly -- and rightfully -- takes his place among the most unrestrained and multi-talented one-man studio demons, delivering equally slick riffs on guitar, keys, drums, bells, whistles (and telephones). CD liner notes refer to the list of songs as "Tunes and Sketches," which progress along a non-cynically pun-infested arc intended to be heard from beginning to end, à la Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon song sequence. There is a distinct outer-space motif established here, thanks to the unnecessary "Space Odyssey" fanfare piece; the cacophonous and strangely out of tune "Let's Go Luna" misidentifies the melo...dic gestalt of the rest of the record. "Televacation" is a breathtaking, galloping sample piece, and "Faster Than You Think" has the busy, jazzy buzz "Luna" lacks. "Nobody There" is a sample-happy dervish piece with great drums and telephone signals. "Pure Vanilla Love Song" is an unapologetic, hectic aubade with uncountable crystal moments of instrumentation and sharp vocals. Sidestepping a distracting opening cut or two, ultimately Faster Than You Think is a successful, moon-drenched kitchen-sink experiment that should accurately represent Hill as a super talented mixmaster par excellence. - Reveka Byrkit, All Music Guide Read more Less