Two rapid releases from the house/apartment/flat/domicile of Malcolm Galloway and his collective. Feeling Great consists of four tracks from Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate, three new lockdown pieces, and one older and, by their own admission, a rough recording of an instrumental that someone twisted their arms to release. To prevent further Chinese burns (an ancient method of schoolboy torture that in no way is representative of anyone past or present oriental) it has been released. The three new tracks are dark areas of the soul when in Feeling Great, our lyricist describes the feelings of isolation and issues of dealing with an invisible illness. Something with which Mr Galloway is acutely aware. Dark? Yes, but not Roger Waters-ly miserable, HOGIA always (to date) have music that lifts the soul.
The second track, Struggling, is instrumental, Pink Floyd in style, and probably better than anything on Endless River and is available on Bandcamp. The more I listen the more I love it. Callisto Cuddle Sponge (title courtesy of Frank Zappa) is a little more upbeat and Anathema-like, and not distracted by anything as limiting as genre. It becomes increasing difficult to put HOGIA amongst the pigeons, this cat has style. (‘Callisto’ is MG’s spelling, not mine ? )
The final track is the fan-loved rough recording of Skyline. It has been remixed, and if this is rough, well you can sandpaper my peaches. (This can be as euphemistic as you wish, but is merely a nonsense phrase, unless you possess a dirty mind.) All in all, a lockdown well spent.
The Malcolm Galloway solo tracks are very different, inhabiting the area of Ambient Chill; Tangerine Dream, Edgar Froese, and others of that ilk. I listened on speakers but found my greatest enjoyment was via headphones, where I could experience the full use of the stereo effect. Great fun. It is hard to describe these tracks, experimental I suppose is one perspective, interesting.
Both are available on Bandcamp and are enjoyable diversions from HOGIA central station. Useful additions, but not necessarily essential, but once heard I think you are likely to want to own them.
TRACK LISTING
Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate – Feeling Good
01. Feeling Great (4:08)
02. Struggling (4:54)
03. Callisto Cuddle Sponge (4:30)
04. Skyline (Bonus Track 2020 Remaster) (5:07)
Total Time – 20:39
MUSICIANS
Malcolm Galloway – Guitar (tracks 1 & 2), Keyboards (tracks 1,2,3 & 4), Vocals (track 1)
Mark Gatland – Guitar (track 3), Keyboards (track 2), Bass (tracks 1,2 & 3) Chapman Stick (track 3)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: U.K.
Date of Release: 2nd December 2020
LINKS
Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp |YouTube
TRACK LISTING
Malcolm Galloway – Wasp 76b
01. Chrysalis (5:22)
02. Wasp 76b (14:50)
03. The Haber Process (Bonus track) (39:55)
Total Time – 60:07
MUSICIANS
Malcolm Galloway – All Instrumentation
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: U.K.
Date of Release: 29th November 2020