Album Review: Hurtling – 'Future From Here'
Sitting somewhere betwixt genres such as shoegaze and darkly psychedelia, Hurtling’s debut album is an amalgamation of the search for self, and the exploration of humanity’s insignificancies, as seen whilst caught up in a hazy, melancholic, netherworld.
Jen Macro is at the helm of Hurtling. The musical project came to life in solitary moments whilst on tour with My Bloody Valentine. Their sound appears to take references from distinct artist like Cocteau Twins, The Breeders, and Warpaint; with grunge elements littered throughout. ‘Start’ is a whirlwind from the outset, with Jen’s vocals taking on contrasting harmonics in a mirroring of Kim and Kelley Deal. There’s a kind of uncertainty that emanates from the softness in which she sings, but as the album progresses, it becomes clear that there is a lot of control behind it.
‘Feel It’ and ‘Summer’ are the only songs on ‘Future From Here’ to have been previously released. The former was inspired by the death of Jen’s mother, and is an anthem on accepting that whatever life throws at you – no matter how dark – you should feel it and learn from it. As she sings the title, it sounds as though she is experiencing a death rattle. The words come out all raspy, flutteringly visceral, yet soft and urgent at the same time. There are elements of this in ‘Summer’ which seethes with despair through guitar riffs that mimic metal scraping against metal.
“We were never meant to be part of anything of note for anyone” comes the plaintive reverb-soaked ‘Let Go’, but there’s a quiet resignation in Jen that just goes to show how simplicity and earnest are what makes you become notable – some people just have a natural spark about them. The devastating ‘E Flat One’ is reminiscent of Bjork’s Hyperballad in its complete succumbing to the sorrow, and ‘Don’t Know Us’ and ‘Blank It Out’ serve as slight reprieve from the sombre tones, but album closer ‘Call To Arms’ is a stunning final reminder of where Hurtling shine.
Words by Tyler Damara Kelly