Album Review: Hope For A Mourning

At first glance the name Mice On Stilts doesn’t really give any indication of what the band might sound like – I hadn’t heard the music before, but had seen the name a lot.

To be completely honest, it wasn’t until perhaps the third listen to their new album Hope For A Mourning that I started to connect with it, and started hearing the influences more clearly and somewhat understanding the intention.

Firstly, there is no denying the production is nothing short of beautiful. There is a haunting atmosphere surrounding the album which is centered around Morely’s captivating melodies and melancholy lyrics, most often paired with subtlety played, emotive piano. While it is for the most part a very sombre and dark collection of songs, there are some great thick walls of delay drenched electric guitar – which I always enjoy listening to loudly through headphones.

A good friend of mine compared this album to if Jeff Buckley wrote an album like Opeth’s Damnation. I really can’t find a fault with that comparison, especially seeing some of the metal t-shirts the frontman Benjamin Morely wears on stage!

As far as favourite songs go, I would choose track 5, YHWH. The brass section adds so much depth to the overdriven guitar tones, and Rob Sanders’ drumming sits perfectly within the arrangements, never overplaying or complicating things, all very well thought out.

So you’ve got a cross reference of Jeff Buckley, Morrissey, Opeth and Radiohead in their more downbeat offerings – Hope For A Mourning is a grower-not-a-shower, a beautifully recorded and heartfelt album that takes a couple of listens… like the best albums usually do.