Hula — 1000 Hours
1000 Hours is the next in the series of CD reissues of Hula albums from Klanggalerie. It was the Sheffield project's third album- originally released in 1986 as a double vinyl album, it featured live and studio versions of all new tracks. The resulting eighteen track album certainly is a shifting & often overwhelming sonic experience, where we move from blends of early stabbing techno, bass guitar licks, and wailing vocals. Down to mixes of moodily sister electro and ethnic percussive. Back up to mixes of snapping electro beats, searing violin/ guitar blends, and post-punk bass throb workouts, and beyond
The CD comes presented in a glossy four-panel digipak- this takes in the original black, red and white colour scheme of the original album- with bold texts, liquid splatters, and mini photo collages. Not sure about how many of this reissue pressed, but I can’t imagine it’s going to be huge- because as a band Hula rather flirted with both more formal & at times (relatively) approachable 80’s genre-blending, and much more experimental side of things.
The album is certainly a shifting and varied proposition- we move gloomy throb bass, churning electro textures, baying synth horns, and chanted male vocals of “Hothouse”. Onto the runaway drum machine, densely layered samples opening of “Big Car (Both Ways)” which opens up into a hazy sonic landscape of reverberation piano keys, hiss ‘n’ knocking hand percussion and woozy Muzak. We have tick-tack ethnic dance beats meets bobbing bass, wavering string and shouty vocals of “Hour By Hour”. There’s pulsing-yet-crude techno stab meets wailing guitar and awkwardly darting funk bass of “Jump The Gun”. Or the snapping electro beats meet sinister wow-wow guitar shimmers and looped vocal chant chaos of “Invisible” which later adds in wonky organ and synth horn tones.
It really is wonderful to see Klanggalerie carrying on with their reissuing of Hula back catalogue- as they really were such a creative and daring band that had their feet planted in many genres and sounds. If you like your 80’s music with edge, surprise and sometimes daring flare- this is a CD you’ll be needing to track down!. Drop by here to score a copy