For those of you unfamiliar with Hypatia Lake, they are a true, unique band of individuals based in Seattle via Oklahoma. The Hypatia Lake world revolves around a fictitious community and the lives of the character of their town. On their first album, “Your Universe, Your Mind,” the listener was introduced to such character as the lonely cowboy archetype of Jeremiah Freud, The Omnipotent Narrator, and the rebellious Candy Factory workers. Their sophomore release, “..And We Shall Call Him Joseph,” played out as a chronological set of scenes as Joseph Bigsby (the instigator of the aforementioned factory rebellion) lay dying of the Candy Factory’s floor.

Their songs have ranged from small and pretty spaces to all out noise and rock abandon, with comparisons being drawn to My Bloody Valentine, Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips and Pink Floyd among others. The band have had the pleasure to share the stage with the likes of BRMC, Dirty Three, M83, Jennifer Gentle, Legendary Pink Dots, Ambulance LTD, Dead Meadow, Swervedriver and Spindrift, to name a few.

Reverb Records had been huge fans of Hypatia Lake over the years, with one of their songs anchoring each of the Shoegazer Ball compilations. We were fortunate enough to be able to release their unbelievable third album "Angels and Demons, Space and Time" in July of 2008. Their album catches the band at their most intimate and most experimental moments. Recorded and engineered by Scott Colburn (Arcade Fire, Animal Collective, Sun City Girls), the album has that unique sonic quality and raw energy that comes from a band playing together in a live setting. Previous sonic explorations relied upon massive amounts of sonic chemistry, hours in the studio and years to produce. This time around, the band wanted to simplify their approach, and just try their best to make great songs. They enjoyed the process, and they hope you will too.

Both hugely sonic and hugely atmospheric, the album has some amazing intimate moments as well as some of the most beautiful white-noise-melodic moments the band have ever recorded. The songs are arranged in an order that the band felt would fairly represent the diversity of the band's current world and that would grow into more familiar territory. It can be a lot to take in, but the band have instructed the listener to "just breathe, it's gonna be OK..."

The band have experienced a few line-up challenges, but are quietly sneaking in some recording sessions for their next album. Watch this space for more news.

Angels and Demons, Space and Time 2008 Reverb Records	...And We Shall Call Him Joseph 2006 Sad Robot	THE FUZZY BALL Various Artists 2004 Reverb Records	Your Universe, Your Mind 2003 Sad Robot
IN A DIFFERENT PLACE Various Artists 2003 Reverb Records	NW SHOEGAZERBLISS Various Artists 2002 Reverb Records

 

REVIEWS

SEATTLE WEEKLY
It's an engaging record, both musically and conceptually, and shares common ground with shoegaze bands without falling into the common trap shoegaze bands often stumble into-- that is, being totally fucking boring. Rather, they've discovered new frontiers of ambient psychedelia. You should also know that the album was recorded by Scott Colburn, who has lent his talents to, oh, just some little bands like Animal Collective and The Arcade Fire.

NO RIP CORD
Initially switching between soft and melodic and, well, slightly less soft – but just as melodic – Hypatia Lake blends elements of 1960s folk and pop-rock and 1990s shoegaze with more than a simple splash of creative insight.

It's not just the influences driving Hypatia Lake that make a difference, though: Trembling guitars, vocals that come just above a whisper, and sweeping synthesizers gently trod a path laid by musical greats, but despite the respectful reverence for the great progenitors of post-1950 pop music, the variety of style found on Angels and Demons, Space and Time speaks to a desire to craft something unique.

SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER
A stew of progressive rock, psychedelia, heavy metal, touches of folk, a dash of opera and a whole lot of sonic storytelling. Single doses are welcome but not recommended as the fictional concepts that guide their LPs generally beg complete listens that, like Alice's little pills, tend to transport listeners down the rabbit hole into imaginary worlds.

ALL MUSIC GUIDE
“…And We Shall Call Him Joseph sounds big, enjoyable, and melancholy, and does all three pretty well.”

 

UNDER THE RADAR
“The story is compelling, the musicianship equally so, evoking massive vistas of possibility. The twin guitars of Hypatia leader Lance Watkins and engineer Zack Reinig thread the plot, exploding and pealing with fury and regret, culminating in the searing demolition of “Timothy’s Militia (How To Blow Up a Candy Factory).” The band effortlessly juggles Pink Floyd and shoegaze influences to create a work of haunting, breathtaking glory. The factory may now be ashes and ghosts, but let’s hope a return trip is imminent”

 

30 MUSIC
“As a reviewer, you get to hear a lot of new music. Sometimes this can be a privilege, sometimes it can be a chore. It is almost like mining gold; there is a lot of worthless rock to sift through, but the gold is oh-so-rewarding. Hypatia Lake’s ...And We Shall Call Him Joseph is solid gold”

 

RABBIT HOLE MUSIC
“Now, while …And We Shall Call Him Joseph really impressed me, it’s their latest album, Angels and Demons, Space and Time, that has really floored me. On the new disc, they have perfected a blend of fuzz, shoe-gaze, and psychedelic dream-pop. It’s a beast to take in all at once, but it’s absolutely gorgeous and at times nearly a sensory overload. And for the most part, while there are still traces of the Flaming Lips sound, they have more in common with bands like M83, My Bloody Valentine, Pink Floyd, Serena Maneesh, and at times even great bands of 60’s yore like The Animals and Moody Blues. Songs like “Jeremiah Close Your Eyes Now” and “The General’s Gleaming Edge” put the bands amazing song writing ability and diverse sound on display. I only hope this time around, a few people take notice.“