Holopaw

Quit +/- or Fight

(Sub Pop)

Record Review by Michele Fair

In between the vast landscape of alt-country and cool, collected hipster rock lays another genre of music that has yet to be identified.  Holopaw might just be the band that bridges the gap and ties the two together.  When Quit +/or Fight begins, the sense of mystery is immediately eminent.  Singer John Orth collaborated with Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock on the Ugly Casanova project, and Brock’s influence is evident with Holopaw.  Orth’s wavering vocals almost convince the listener he’s about to break, only to strengthen and surprise, and by the end of each song we’re certain of the message he wants to convey.  On the track “Curious,” Orth’s voice soars to falsetto, almost feminine heights with pure passion.  But it’s not just our leading man who makes this album a true journey; the music itself gives visuals of campfire stories, ghosts, and long Southern drives.

Holopaw incorporates handcrafted drumbeats, beautifully orchestrated acoustic guitar, synth, cello, wind instruments, and a whole lot of fervor.  Although the album isn’t full of sing along smash hits, it covers all bases with a true sense that the band has a genuine and solid purpose.  The opening track, “Losing Light,” pulls listeners in with pounding beats and full, rich guitar and bass, while “Needle In the Sway” makes a soothing substitute for a bedtime lullaby.  “Little Shaver” is a blend of rock and jazz at their finest, featuring full-bodied keyboard work. 

Every track on Quit +/or Fight comes together to make an album that will stay in your mind, and provide a backdrop for those humid summer nights on the front porch swing.  Sub Pop has discovered a band that will certainly contribute to linking two similar yet mysteriously different musical styles.