Hip Bobsha looks to the present & future with new album

Posted

Hip Bobsha is one of those local bands that seem they’ve been around forever. Rooted in North Kingstown during the early 2000s and now based in Providence, this act has been bringing their cohesive blend of alt-rock, folk and blues to various stages around Rhode Island for quite some time now.

 Over the years, the quartet of Brian Recupero and Jason Sorensen both on guitar, keyboard & vocals along with bassist Seth Acton and drummer Colin Relliy have become an integral part of the Ocean State’s jam band scene.

With that being said, it’s been a bit since they’ve released any new recordings but now that’s not the case. The band recently put out the full-length album “Close” on February 2 and it has a lot to offer the senses. The theme behind the record is somewhat reactionary to the past few years with the songs relaying thoughts about where we currently are as a society and where we might end up going. At the same time, the tracks within the album exhibit an essence with the arrangements and structures of the music providing a sound that flows in substantial fashion.

 “The 12 songs on ‘Close’ represent observations of things that have happened within ordinary daily life during that time as well as larger events on the world stage,” the band mentions in the liner notes. “They are concerned with where we are as a civilization as well as where we might be headed. For on that road, we end as stone or light.” Along with performing on the album, both Recupero and Sorensen handled the production at the latter’s home studio. Sorensen also took on the recording and mixing duties while John Mailloux at Bongo Beach Productions in Westport, Massachusetts did the mastering of “Close”.

This results in a stellar quality that captures the amplification and instrumentation of the songs in a clear and poignant way. Nothing sounds off or lacking, each element of the band has a presence that doesn’t get overlooked. It makes for a great listening experience that’s easy to get immersed in while wearing a pair of headphones. Leading off the album in acoustic fashion in a similar approach to the Dave Matthews Band, “Western Skies” has the guitars and drums creating an excellent foundation. While having an interesting name, “Trustafari” is a prime example of how the amplification and instrumentation of Hip Bobsha’s music is being conveyed within “Close”.

“Mindless Generation” has more of a grit and heaviness to it than the other songs while conveying the messaging behind the album. Going back to the acoustic stylings, “Embers” reminds me of a lot of bluegrass tunes I’ve heard over the years. Other songs that are worth a listen include “Young American Beast”, “After The Rest” and “Waves”. To check out “Close” and perhaps purchase it for a digital download, log on to Hip Bobsha’s website at hipbobsha.com. From there you can give it a listen via your favorite music streaming platform and enjoy. It’s a really cool album with each song off of it bringing something different while fitting together like a perfect musical puzzle.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here