Album Review: Hen Hoose - 'Equaliser'
Hen Hoose is a group of female and non-binary songwriters and producers from/based in Scotland who have joined forces to tackle gender inequality. Founded in 2020 by Tamara Schlesinger (A.K.A. MALKA) the collective has grown to a point where they now release a debut LP consisting of tracks from their members.
Across the forty-five minutes it’s clear there’s a wealth of talent who are criminally under the radar. An early highlight ‘Just Be Real’ sees Rachael Swinton and Pippa Murphy join forces on a compelling, stripped back and atmospheric track. With little propping the track up other than soothing vocals, subtle strings, soft keys, and a mellow drumbeat underpinning it, the elements combine to create a memorable moment of magic.
Incredibly, while there’s some 13/14 artists involved (and a whole host more involved in mixing and production) and a wide range of styles, the flow of the album works seamlessly as though it’s been conceived as a single project. ‘The Best- The Best Is Yet To Come’ featuring Carla J Easton, Amunda & MALKA sounds like a modern take on a 90s R&B/Pop classic which you could easily imagine being a disc one highlight on a Now That’s What I Call Music CD back in the day.
Elisabeth Elektra is an artist who I discovered some time last year and features in two tracks ‘Hush Hush’ alongside Good Dog and ‘Make It Alright’ with Sarah Hayes. Both are opposite ends of the spectrum with the former a thought-provoking slow-burner and the latter a gentle but upbeat dance track which can’t help but make you smile and feel positive.
Contrast, collaboration and a sense of togetherness is what makes this project work so well. The mixture of artists working together on a variety of genres signifies songwriters that are going out of their way to create music with a difference and not just sticking to their comfort zones.
There’s much to love about this album and after two or three listens I still feel like I’ve only skimmed the surface of it. Songs like ‘Change Light’ by Pippa Murphy & Sarah Hayes and ‘Burn It All’ with Inge Thomson & Beldina Odenyo are ones that stay with you but it’s disheartening that they’ve come about through a feeling of an uneven playing field.
For anyone doubting it, just take a look at festival line-ups up and down the country ever year, it’s clear to see that inequality is still rife in the industry. The tiresome lines some wheel out about there not being enough female talent is frustratingly inaccurate and I can’t fathom how draining and demoralising it is for female and non-binary artists trying to navigate an industry where medieval mindsets like this still exist.
While it may have been born from a feeling of discrimination, I hope this record is remembered as being a celebration of the sheer talent of female/non-binary artists that work day and night to create beautiful music.
Words by Richard Cobb