Big Hush Spirit / Wholes

The music of Genevieve Ludwig, Owen Wuerker, Chris Taylor, and Emma Baker embraces collectivity and experimentation, imbued with the tension and intimacy of close friendship. Writing is communal, and everyone sings. Big Hush songs are sharpened by the unpredictable acoustics of DIY show spaces and recorded later in a basement studio. Edits are made in the backseat of a Volvo with the windows down. The songs are mostly three-minute concentrations of moody, solid indie-pop songwriting, with melodic dueling vocals and harmonies that poke out above the hiss of tape and distorted guitars.

The songs for Wholes and Who’s Smoking Your Spirit? were written and recorded in 2014 and 2015, exploring intersections between harmony-laden melancholy, off-kilter punk urgency, and the lush cacophony of shoegaze. They document the group’s cultivation of a complex and original aesthetic, one that cuts through dense textures, arrangements and harmonies with a searing, catchy clarity. Now available on vinyl and re-mastered specifically for that format, these two are combined onto one album that also includes a new bonus track.