Mark Stoney + The Denizen Hum - “Half Made”
The Denizen Hum is the name of a new collaborative project that features a revolving cast of luminaries, visionaries, and all-around musical enchanters, coming together, presumably from opposite ends of the Earth, to formulate concoctions for our listening pleasure. The particular ensemble that has brought us here today features the vocal stylings and production skills of Mark Stoney, the drums, production, and mixing talent of Danny Reisch (Shearwater, Other Lives), and the keyboard chops of Jacob Stoney (currently on tour with Billy Bragg). And though they may consider themselves “more of a process than a product,” no listener should be denied the divine pleasure of listening to “Half Made.”
Pressing play on this track will begin an experience that is quite ethereal and dream-like, and any listener will be able to identify the sounds of piano, guitar, and cajon, but they flow together seamlessly, with the lead guitar gliding in just before the vocals begin. The feeling is instantly one of melancholy, as the lyrics paint a picture of a lost love– not just some breakup, but the actual death of love– still sharing a bed with the ghost of one’s past and it is bound to move you, just as it has moved us.
There are no real comparisons to draw here, musically, though there is an uneasiness that is similar to how quiet the world is in those few moments before a storm. After the first refrain, the drums arrive, adding to this unexplainable sense of urgency, even though the listener is more than safe within the confines of this musical craft. The Denizen Hum knew exactly what they were doing when they created this thing, which is proven even further as the bridge arrives– just before the song ultimately dives down into one the most glorious breaks we’ve ever heard– our favorite part and the reason that you need to hear “Half Made” before we end up spoiling the entire thing for you.
To ensure the widest possible listening audience, we are also including a Spotify link, but keep your eyes peeled for the official video, produced by visual artist Emma Ledwith, due out next week!
-TM