Hawk and Dove. What a fabulous name for a band. The name alone brings to mind visions of perfect blue skies, crisp clean air, and the unlikely possibility of a hawk and a dove flying in harmony together. It’s a peaceful image. And because this is the vibe that I got from the name of this band alone, I was anxiously anticipating what their music would sound like. I wanted to know if the images that came into my mind fit the vision of this band.
So I began listening. The album starts with the song “Furious Armies” and it is as melodic and soothing as I thought it would be. It is almost hypnotizing. I found myself swaying back and forth with my eyes closed, just soaking up the peaceful vibe and the lyrics that carry so much hope. The guitar work on this piece is fantastically well done. In fact, all of the instrumentation is stellar. The sound quality is phenomenal and it is obvious that Hawk and Dove have put much time and effort into crafting this album.
The second track, “Stain,” has a more back country feel to it, as in old cowboys hanging out in front of the general store waiting for someone to come say hello. I picture a dusty, hot desert, cacti, and rusty pick-up trucks driven by land weary Native Americans with a handful of children with haunted eyes riding in the bed. The lyrics of “Stain” are tainted with sadness and melancholy accompanied nicely by the violin. The rhythm of this track is slow and smooth and each member of the band has the chance to show what they are made of. The guitar really carries this piece, but it would be nothing without the drums, and the drums would be nothing without bass, and holding it all together are Elijah’s vocals and the melodic violin. There is so much going on in this piece, but it is so exceptionally well done that it simply flows together effortlessly. I also get a much better sense of Elijah’s vocal ability, especially towards the end of the song when he opens up a little more. “Stain” is not just a piece of music; it is also a work of art.
“Boy on the Moon” begins with a dreamy and spectral guitar riff that is accompanied beautifully by Elijah’s vocals. And due to the fact that this track begins with nothing but the guitar and Elijah, I am focusing very closely on the lyrics. “So much time I don’t know what to do, tell me, Mister, are we leaving soon.” That is how the song begins and for some reason it is haunting and comforting at the same time. “Boy on the Moon” has rather deep meaning, I am sure, and it is somewhat of a sad song. I am discovering that Hawk and Dove have the ability to make me feel lonely and yet comforted, isolated and yet open to every possibility, help captive and yet feeling free. And that’s only what the lyrics do to me. The music is spectacular and this song clearly shows that Hawk and Dove have unlimited potential and that each member has an unending supply of talent.
The final track is titled “Muscle Breaks” and it is a live one. I find this extremely intriguing for many reasons. Studio and live cuts have very different sounds to them for the most part. Live recordings are not nearly as polished and professional sounding as studio recordings and that is what lends them such charm. Hawk and Dove, however, sound just as tantalizing with a live recording as they do with studio ones. “Muscle Breaks” is a compilation of talent, heart and soul. That violin again…… It can give a person chills. In fact, it just did.
Hawk and Dove have obviously mastered the art of creating original and captivating music. This EP is alive, colorful and thought provoking, not to mention the sound is just phenomenal. I look forward to hearing more from these talented and gifted musicians.
Reviewed by Rhonda Readence
