My only prior experience of Hollow Wood is this fantastic live recording of ‘Little Bird’, a rather epic singalong that falls somewhere between Typhoon and folk-pop acts like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers.
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Well the band have now put out an EP, Seasons, and I’m pleased to say that ‘Little Bird’ was not a one off. ‘Memento Mori’ and ‘Spirits’ shows that the band are capable of big songs on record too, with similarly powerful sing-/shout-along moments where the chorus of voices takes over the instrumentation for a stirring climax. The title track shows that the band have other strings to their bow, this a slower, more mellow song infused with melancholy.
There’s something special running through these songs, a seam of courage or determination or passion that makes them really stand out from a genre that has been flooded with inoffensive, radio-friendly mediocrity. They have all of the capabilities to make something good, but Hollow Wood are not happy to settle for merely good. Instead they clap the hands and raise their voices and push for more.
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You can buy the EP from the Hollow Wood store right now.