RIYL: Vivian Girls, Yumi Zouma, Alvvays, Widowspeak
Label: Polyvinyl
After a double EP release in 2016, Hazel English has officially released a full length LP, on pre-order that is. With her crystal clear vocals and jangly beach pop sound, she has blissfully encapsulated an infectious array of tunes to tickle your ear drums, if you like that sort of thing. Heavily influenced by the dreaminess of the mythological 60’s pop sound, Hazel provides her own take with compelling and candid lyrics that tackle themes not usually associated with upbeat dream pop. It’s like she woke up from a time machine in today’s society and decided to sing about it, and all of its transparent glory that wasn’t around in the 60’s. Both singles are smile provoking and lovely, so grab an exclusive copy wherever you’d like, listed below.
Limited to 300 White-Red-White Vinyl Copies
Limited to 500 White Vinyl
Here is a little about Hazel:
An open sufferer of anxiety, English wrote the record following something of an existential crisis. Stuck and isolated, she felt like life was becoming a series of mundane objectives. She began asking herself: âam I happy? Do I like the direction Iâm going in life? Am I engaged with my community? Do I feel connected to others?â English realised that the answers to all these questions were, for her, resounding nos. The albumâs title became a kind of personal mantra to her â âa reminder to wake up and be present in a time where we are used to switching off and looking for constant entertainment,â she says. â[âWake UP!] will mean something different to everyone. Like, oh yeah, Iâve been sleeping on this goal of mine, or I need to spend more time with my kids. Itâs for whatever people need to confront.â
Obsessing over old movies and vintage clothing since the age of 15, English took cues from surrealism, dadaism and the writings of sci-fi novelist Philip K. Dick for the record. She wrote words before she became a musician â before a student exchange programme prompted her San Francisco move, English was studying creative writing in Melbourne and writing poetry prolifically. After reading Guy Debordâs 1967 book The Society of the Spectacle, English began pondering our obsession with self-image. In it, Debord considers how we get caught up in the âspectacleâ: How am I perceived by others? How can I make it seem like I’m successful? English draws parallels from the â60s text with our social media-crazed present as âessentially creating a fabricated version of yourself and making sure it seems like youâre living this amazing life. Itâs not a true experience. That just makes us unhappy, I think.â – Polyvinyl
The Details
Rough Trade Exclusive
White / Red / White Vinyl
Limited to 300 copies
Limited Coloured Vinyl.
Polyvinyl Exclusive:
Early Bird Vinyl + Digital
White, Limited to 500.
First Pressing.
Polyvinyl Exclusive.
Gatefold Jacket.
Not Limited from Polyvinyl:
LP - Clear Red Vinyl
Release: April 24, 2020
Additional Images
Price $22
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