Artist comment
Greg Fasolino | Huntington, NY USA | 03/23/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As one of the members of Bell Hollow, I am proud of this recording but don't feel I ought to comment personally. Here's some reviews that might elucidate what's cool about the EP:
"While so many latter-day post-punk bands fall all over themselves trying to mimic the more danceable moments of a Gang of Four record, Bell Hollow chooses to embrace atmosphere and mood. The act's songs -- which sound like the Chameleons playing haunted tunes in an abandoned church -- are filled with otherworldly melodies and warmed by urgent rhythms." - Westword
"On Sons of the Burgess Shale, Bell Hollow capture the sonic spirit of 80s British post-punk and alt rock. Think Echo and the Bunnymen, think The Chameleons, think a dash of shoegaze and The Smiths, and yet Sons of the Burgess Shale has its own essential character. Think of this as a continuation of that musical vein, not a revival. This is atmospheric rock to burn love letters to." - LiarSociety
"Bell Hollow is serious music. Rich and layered, the sound is a blend of steady drumming, dramatic basslines, subtle and equally salient synthesizers. The finished product is, in effect, both emotionally probing and light as a feather on the ears. Brit pop influences offer hope to misbegotten Smiths and New Order devotees. Nevertheless, Bell Hollow can hardly be considered a revivalist flash in the pan. The music culminates in a moving crash of tempo and expressive sound all their own. Bell Hollow achieves a beautiful sadness that is sure to be lauded by melancholic rockers, young and old." - The Deli Magazine
"The mood and guitar playing on 'Sons Of The Burgess Shale' will remind many of us of myriad guitar bands we adored as kids, but it's also the best kind of dark-hued, reflective, guitar-driven vocal music. The eponymous opener is a rock-solid grower, with Greg F.'s echoing guitar slowly mesmerizing, as the bass line holds it all together. Nick Niles' vocals will also bring a tinge of nostalgia to older ears, especially BT readers weaned on Comsats, The Sound and Chameleons. Lithe, gorgeous closer 'Shukriya Moon' cements the fact that Bell Hollow are no mere loyalists, but have their own tricks up their sleeves." - The Big Takeover
"From the first dramatic sweep of the synth, 10 seconds into Sons of Burgess Shale's title track, one is catapulted across the Atlantic and back in time a quarter of a century. The funk fueled bass line, stuttering drum pattern, and shadowed atmosphere heighten the effect. "Bodies, Rest and Motion" brilliantly connects all the dots between the eclectic styles of the age, from the proto-gothrockers through the post-punkers with atmospheres (i.e. The Cure), and even future stadium rockers like U2. The guitar-laced "Shukriya Moon" tips a hat to Television, Japan, and even Ryuichi Sakamoto. Darkly shimmering atmospheres drench the entire set, but it's the strong rhythms and astute interplay between the synth and guitar that are the building block of Bell Hollow's haunting, evocative sound. The lyrics, suitably obscure, mean nothing and everything, leaving plenty of opportunity for listeners to wrestle and read what they will into them. A fabulous dissection of an entire age, and a wonderful reimagining of times long gone and yet to come." - All Music Guide
"
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1