The Hope Slide (band)
Encyclopedia
The Hope Slide is a band from Vancouver
, Canada. The Hope Slide is named after the Hope Slide
, a rock slide that occurred early in the morning of January 9, 1965.
The Hope Slide's self-titled debut album, released September 28, 2010 on Submerged Records
, is something of a concept album befitting the band’s chosen name. The songs deal with disasters and upheavals of all kinds, including the ill-fated Franklin Expedition
(“Passage”), the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
of 1911 (“In Ashe”), the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
, and the impact of the Chernobyl disaster
on the surrounding ecosystem (“Red Forest
”). “In Ashe” was inspired by a landmark event in the history of workers’ rights, “Parish” confronts the U.S. government's failed response to Hurricane Katrina
, and “Topple the Sky” deals with the 2009–2010 Iranian election protests.
In advance of the album's release, three tracks were offered as free downloads on the Hope Slide's Bandcamp page.
Writing in the Brock Press, Marshal Hignett described The Hope Slide as "an astounding debut release which is bound to have a tremendous impact on the Canadian electronic scene in the future." The British blog indie-mp3.co.uk noted that the duo's music is "not shoegaze in it’s classic sense but is more in line with the ambient electrical stuff put out by the likes of M83
and Ulrich Schnauss
." SlowdiveMusic Blog called the album "a journey through grandiose soundscapes, overwhelming undertows, and brilliant craftsmanship", declaring it "the dreampop/shoegaze monument of the year".
The Hope Slide's members, Michaela Galloway (vocals, Moog) and John Lucas (guitar, bass, keyboards, beats), were formerly in Hinterland
, a band that, through its eight-year, three-album run, consistently made the Canadian college-radio charts, performed all over the country (including on a nationally broadcast TV show), and generally built a cult following. Whereas Hinterland was a five-piece rock band, however, the Hope Slide leans more toward the electronic end of things, albeit with all the moody dream-pop atmospherics for which Lucas and Galloway are known.
On October 19, 2010, Submerged Records made available on the Hope Slide's Bandcamp page The Hope Slide Remixed, a free five-song EP, featuring remixes by Vigestol (aka Geoff Nilson, formerly of Way to Go, Einstein
), the Ludvico Treatment, Area Man, Sinewave, and Killsaly.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada. The Hope Slide is named after the Hope Slide
Hope Slide
The Hope Slide was the largest landslide ever recorded in Canada. It occurred in the morning hours of January 9, 1965 in the Nicolum Valley near Hope, British Columbia, and killed four people...
, a rock slide that occurred early in the morning of January 9, 1965.
The Hope Slide's self-titled debut album, released September 28, 2010 on Submerged Records
Submerged Records
Submerged Records is an independent record label based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It was founded in 2005 by members of the band Hinterland. Submerged specializes in what it calls "dreamo", an invented genre that blends elements of dreampop, shoegaze, space rock, post-rock, and related styles....
, is something of a concept album befitting the band’s chosen name. The songs deal with disasters and upheavals of all kinds, including the ill-fated Franklin Expedition
Franklin's lost expedition
Franklin's lost expedition was a doomed British voyage of Arctic exploration led by Captain Sir John Franklin that departed England in 1845. A Royal Navy officer and experienced explorer, Franklin had served on three previous Arctic expeditions, the latter two as commanding officer...
(“Passage”), the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city of New York and resulted in the fourth highest loss of life from an industrial accident in U.S. history...
of 1911 (“In Ashe”), the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida at 11:38 am EST...
, and the impact of the Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
on the surrounding ecosystem (“Red Forest
Red Forest
The Red Forest , formerly the Worm Wood Forest, refers to the trees in the 10 km² surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The name 'Red Forest' comes from the ginger-brown colour of the pine trees after they died following the absorption of high levels of radiation from the Chernobyl...
”). “In Ashe” was inspired by a landmark event in the history of workers’ rights, “Parish” confronts the U.S. government's failed response to Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, and “Topple the Sky” deals with the 2009–2010 Iranian election protests.
In advance of the album's release, three tracks were offered as free downloads on the Hope Slide's Bandcamp page.
Writing in the Brock Press, Marshal Hignett described The Hope Slide as "an astounding debut release which is bound to have a tremendous impact on the Canadian electronic scene in the future." The British blog indie-mp3.co.uk noted that the duo's music is "not shoegaze in it’s classic sense but is more in line with the ambient electrical stuff put out by the likes of M83
M83 (band)
M83 is a musical act by French musician Anthony Gonzalez. It is named after a spiral galaxy, Messier 83. The band was founded in 2001 by Gonzalez and former member Nicolas Fromageau in Antibes, France...
and Ulrich Schnauss
Ulrich Schnauss
-Biography:Ulrich Schnauss was born in the northern German seaport of Kiel in 1977. He became interested in a range of music: My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Tangerine Dream, Chapterhouse, and early bleep & breakbeat tracks...
." SlowdiveMusic Blog called the album "a journey through grandiose soundscapes, overwhelming undertows, and brilliant craftsmanship", declaring it "the dreampop/shoegaze monument of the year".
The Hope Slide's members, Michaela Galloway (vocals, Moog) and John Lucas (guitar, bass, keyboards, beats), were formerly in Hinterland
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
, a band that, through its eight-year, three-album run, consistently made the Canadian college-radio charts, performed all over the country (including on a nationally broadcast TV show), and generally built a cult following. Whereas Hinterland was a five-piece rock band, however, the Hope Slide leans more toward the electronic end of things, albeit with all the moody dream-pop atmospherics for which Lucas and Galloway are known.
On October 19, 2010, Submerged Records made available on the Hope Slide's Bandcamp page The Hope Slide Remixed, a free five-song EP, featuring remixes by Vigestol (aka Geoff Nilson, formerly of Way to Go, Einstein
Way to Go, Einstein
Way to Go, Einstein is a five-piece modern rock band band from Vancouver, Canada. Way to Go, Einstein's second LP, Pseudonym, was released on March 17, 2009 by Submerged Records. This second self-produced album was recorded over a period of eight months at the band’s studios in New Westminster,...
), the Ludvico Treatment, Area Man, Sinewave, and Killsaly.
Members
- Michaela Galloway: vocals, Moog Little Phatty
- John Lucas: guitar, bass, keyboards, beats