Float Away With Ben Hackett
Since launching the blog in February, we haven’t written about many Georgia artists. It’s not been intentional—we just weren’t in the loop. Recently, though, Nathan at Attaboy Tapes in Athens sent some hometown recommendations our way, including an excellent instrumental record by Ben Hackett titled, Songs for Sleeping Dogs.
When you scan the credits for Songs for Sleeping Dogs, you might be thrown by the list of instruments featured on the tracks: horns, woodwinds, synthesizers, etc. I really wasn’t sure what to expect… maybe a jumbled mess of disparate ideas and sounds? But there’s real cohesion and depth to this album, and Hackett finds poignant ways to bring everything into the fold. It’s not busy—it breathes.
It’s an expansive, DIY, analog-ish, Southern ambient record. According to Hackett, “I recorded the whole thing at my house and played all the instruments. I did most of the mixing at my place too and took it to Jason Kingsland’s studio to do final mixes with him.” The final result is a blend of Bibio, William Tyler (think New Vanitas), Philip Glass, and Bing & Ruth.
The twelve tracks can serve as a compelling soundtrack for the daily routines of ordinary strangers. Just listen and watch people cross the street or drink coffee on a bench, and it’ll make everything feel a little more remarkable.
“Music for Wood and Tape” is a prime example of the soundtrack-like quality of the record. A repeating (yet subtly growing) piano melody sets the stage while horns begin to stretch the sound into a dynamic and subtle atmosphere. It places you in an imaginary landscape yet also heightens the mundane moments that happen around us every day.
“Loose Changes 2” is a little less subtle and serves as the climax of the album. It’s an effervescent, building, and emotive track, one that ramps up over the course of its seven-minute run time—which, by the way, goes by in a blink. It’s a meditative track that delivers both mysticism and clarity without seeming heavy-handed. So many things are true at once on this song—just listen and float away.
This album really is a surprise gem, and it’s totally worth a start-to-finish listen. Hackett will go on tour in November with Patterson Hood and Craig Finn, both performing in their bands and opening the shows. Sounds like a heavy lift. Listen to the album now and go check him out next month (tour dates available here).
