Hendricks The Hatmaker – Songs For The Confused CD

It’s been a while since we had some folk-rock music on our pages. Luckily, a parcel full of releases from Switzerland arrived at our headquarters about a week ago. Nothing of this would be possible without Hendricks The Hatmaker, a folk-punk trio based in Lucerne. The band is back on the map after a three-year break, and they’re preparing some new music, which will see the light of the day as two separate EP releases. Of course, you’ll read about their fresh material but, before that, I would like to cover their previous releases that included their late singer. Hendricks The Hatmaker previously played folk-rock, but they decided to switch to folk-punk sound after the three-year break.

I was curious to hear how the band sounded before. That way I will better understand the band’s intentions after hearing their older recordings. Therefore, I decided to start from scratch by examining Songs For The Confused. This record represents their debut full-length album, released as a digipak CD back in 2016. I’ll have to admit that Songs For The Confused sounds superb from scratch to finish. It represents a comprehensive amalgam of calmy folk-rock numbers, thoughtfully assembled to satisfy even the pickiest fans of the genre. I know that most punk rockers avoid folk-rock music, but give this album a chance, and you’ll love it from the bottom of your heart. It unquestionably represents a gamechanger in the genre that continuously evolves into something greater. Many new groups prove folk-rock can sound pleasing, entertaining, and incredible. Hendricks The Hatmaker is one of those bands that will leave an impression on you.

Soundwise, Hendricks The Hatmaker relies upon cleverly assembled chord progressions, enhanced by the massive low-end tones and robust rhythmic support. Each sequence performed on acoustic guitar represents a story for itself, and you’ll have a hard time finding out the one idea that sounds bad. Each chord progression contains three to four chords, perfectly arranged to resonate with cathartic ambiance. The bass guitar gives a bit more depth through beautiful basslines, while the excellent drumming keeps the remainder of the instruments in line. The lead vocalist provides soulful chants driven by emotion, confidence, and power rarely heard among folk-rock singers on the contemporary scene. Don’t let the album title fool you. Songs For The Confused is a perfect debut that stands out from many modern folk-rock recordings, and you should check it out immediately. I believe that the band has some copies of this release, so head over to their Bandcamp page and support their work by purchasing Songs For The Confused.