Hem made a quiet stir with their 2001 release Rabbit Songs, notable for its lush orchestral backdrop and the casually sexy and innocent whisperings of vocalist
Sally Ellyson. The fact that a gentle folk ensemble could even be heard amidst the
Britneys and
Xtinas of the new millennium is a testament to
Hem's intangible qualities. Fans of their debut will be happy to hear that their 2004 follow-up Eveningland is completely devoid of techno drum loops, pitch-corrected teen angst, and the only super-famous guest star is the quietly brilliant (and unobtrusive)
Josh Rouse. Clarinets provide reedy countermelodies to the sighing violins, and campfire acoustic guitars buoy
Ellyson's lullabies along on burlap mists through dusty woodcut images. Largely orchestrated by songwriter
Dan Messé, the songs retain the timeless quality of Appalachian folk music without ever sounding dated. The music occasionally ranges through blissful '70s AM pop (
the Carpenters), with hints of the big British folk ensembles (
Pentangle,
Fairport Convention), and sighing pedal steel reminiscent of terrific '90s Americana (
Cowboy Junkies,
Mojave Three) and dreamy pop (
Mazzy Star,
the Sundays) all of which assemble on the same wooden front porch for a starry evening of acoustic introspection. The album begins subtly with the understated "The Fire Thief," moving slowly into the bright ballad "Receiver" and through a warmly subdued version of the
Johnny Cash/
June Carter duet "Jackson." The only fault with the album may be that it is not as surprising as their debut, and since it is simply more of the same terrific music, it doesn't broadside the listener in the same new and fresh way. The
Hem project began as an attempt to create something lasting, and Eveningland proves that their debut was no fluke. While
Hem will probably never appear on MTV (not even early in the morning) or get 30 spins a week on Hot Hits Z-101, their music may sneak into the hearts of unassuming listeners through NPR's All Things Considered and maybe on a CD sampler in a roots music magazine, and those lucky listeners will cherish these songs, holding them close to their hearts with eyes closed and smiles wide, knowing that they hold something truly precious. ~ Zac Johnson