Bristol duo Hangover Square will be releasing their latest album ‘Painting With An Open Heart’ on the 6th of June

This duo have masterfully created an ambitious piece of work, a giant lockdown project, to be accompanied by a feature film. 

It is hard to believe that this album was predominantly recorded at home; the production is crystalline, and the orchestration creates a beautifully atmospheric soundscape. The string arrangements shimmer over the tracks like sunbeams breaking through a clouded sky and the vocal harmonies are carefully crafted throughout.

There is plenty of variety on the album which really takes you on a journey. Hypnotic tracks such as ‘City Slumber’ lull you into a daydream with Victoria Bourne and Chris Harper’s delicate vocal harmonies floating over a velvet wash of sound. Yet this is quickly contrasted by more driving blues numbers such as ‘Angels and Anvils’. This starts with a distinctive guitar riff which reminds me of the desert blues riffs of Moroccan Gnawa music, played on the three stringed ‘Gimbri’.

Iridescent, cinematic and rich in texture, ‘Painting With An Open Heart’ transcends the genre of Folk Rock. I’m looking forward to experiencing this album along with the accompanying feature film, which you will be able to catch for free for a few days only when released on 6th June. 

Or why not tune in for their online live performance on the 3rd July 2021 on Visual Radio Arts!

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Review by Robin Timmins