Henry Chadwick - “I Hate The Sound”
Photo by Jake William Capistran
Ahead of his forthcoming EP, Leaving, Portland-based Henry Chadwick has just delivered the indie rock goodness of “I Hate The Sound,” a psychedelically-tinged song that is bound to captivate all who hear.
The track is built upon an ear-worm of a warbling chord progression that will likely work its way beneath your skin so that you might carry it around for the rest of the week. Its relentless loop is truly mesmerizing and we knew we would love it immediately. Beneath this mind-bending guitar tone, Chadwick has sparsely utilized some digital percussive elements, but only enough to keep your interest piqued as the song unfolds.
Chadwick’s vocal performance is polished in a thick sheen of effects, allowing it float across the top of the arrangement and pour directly into your ears as though a mellifluous liquid. The subject matter nails our niche for the dark and somber, as “I Hate The Sound” traverses the sheer agony of grief in what is apparently “an open letter to the reaper.” And while the lyrics are quite ominous, they are wonderfully offset by the playful nature of the song’s video.
There is a thickness to the production that permeates an analogue flavor, most notably upon the arrival of the chorus, when additional layers of vocals join the arrangement as the rhythm section assumes its rightful position. This authenticity adds a considerable amount of weight to the subject matter and we have not been able to shake this song since first hearing it. If you, like most human beings, have experienced tragedy and loss, let this tune accompany you on your journey through the grieving process.
-HD