House on a Hill are a mysterious band. The masterminds behind two discreetly known but well-made albums, the Brooklyn trio came on to the scene in a whirlwind in the middle of the decade, only to disappear a short time afterward. In their second album, Nicest View of the War, the elusive band gave their listeners a glimpse of their potent potential before slipping off into the musical abyss.
Comprised of Cedar Apffel, Sara Kermanshahi, and Carlos Moncada, House on a Hill were a band who never said much about themselves. Rather, they allowed their music to speak for them, forsaking the haze of publicity so many bands spend their early days lost in. Driven by static chords and contrasted with subtle syncopations, the music is smartly composed to grab and keep attention, a necessary function with songs upwards of five minutes each.
While the formulaic approach to composition established in their first album, Ladyslipper , persists, their breadth of style is greatly expanded. A band somewhere between Broken Social Scene and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the indie ensemble prefers to think of themselves in the same dimension as more devoutly rock groups such as Pinback and Interpol. This contrast of persona comes through clearly in the 2007 album. Ambient melody rock plays off the faster, more striking noise pieces to create an almost synesthetic experience, where tracks come to life with their own distinct colors and feel. "Sure, Fine" resonates with warmth, both in heat and color, while "It Will/Won't" provides a cooler counterpoint. A swirling mixture of the two can be found in "Playing a Part," where pseudo-acoustic lines and tight electric chords dance around one another. Song lyrics are almost as mysterious as the band itself, sometimes calling up images of the war that gave the album its name, others singing softly of simple romance.
A band of few words, but strong music, House on a Hill proved a powerful force for the short time they chose to infiltrate the music scene. Though long since gone from the rock world, their music remains tight and relevant. |