Their first releases were very limited vinyl singles on various different small, indie, and some now defunct, record labels, although 555 records who released '(The) Weight' in 1998 is still alive.
In 1994, record labels Fluff and Slumberland released Hood's first full length album, entitled 'Cabled Linear Traction'. It was a landmark for the band, some still say it's their best album. It had similarities to bands like The Cure, Sonic Youth and Pavement.
The album was issued on CD in 1999 by Slumberland, who also released 1996's 'Silent 88' album. The latter was similar sounding to 'CLT', but with much more experimentation going on and far more use of electronics.
A collection of limited and rare singles was put together by Happy Go Lucky records in 1997 and released on CD and vinyl, the vinyl version coming with a free 7" record.
In 1997, Domino Record Co snapped up Hood and released the single 'Useless'. A lo-fi indie electronica affair, not too dissimilar to the aforementioned '(The) Weight' released the next year.
Around this time Chris was releasing instrumental electronic material as Downpour, often involving heavily distorted drum and bass.
After another handful of singles and eps for Domino, they released the album 'Rustic Houses, Forlorn Valleys' in 1998. A dense, dark and tension building album, sounding somewhere in between Labradford, Mogwai and Massive Attack and produced by the band and Matt Elliott from Third Eye Foundation.
A year later came 'The Cycle of Days and Seasons', once again produced by Matt Elliott. With an ever changing line up still revolving around the two brothers, the sound of the band changed yet again, moving further into indie electronics.
Colaborating with friends Doseone and Why? from the Anticon collective came Hoods 5th studio album 'Cold House' in 2001, their most well known and collectively appreciated ablum. It contained elements of Post Rock, IDM, Indie as well as Doseone and Why?'s voice and lyric talents. Features the single 'You Show No Emotion At All'. Released on Domino.
In early 2005, Hood released 'Outside Closer', an emotional journey through ambience and hip hop beats. More line up changes occured, meaning this album was yet again different to the previous. Taking influence from The Remote Viewer, Prefuse 73 and Empress (the singer of which appears on the album). The tracks 'The Lost You' and 'The Negatives' were released as singles, featuring b-sides and videos for the tracks.
Since the release of 'Outside Closer' Hood have toured with Why? promoting his new album 'Elephant Eyelash' and released various remixes.
During 2006, Gareth S Brown, who played in the aforementioned tour, has been working on a solo album, due for release in November on Richard's girlfriend's label Misplaced Pets.
Currently due for release on record label anticon, is a solo album from Hood lead singer Chris Adams under the name of Bracken. The lead single from the album, titled 'Heathens', is due out in November, the album, titled 'We Know About the Need' follows in January.
In 2007 Richard Adams formed a side project The Declining Winter which has spawned a 7" The Future Sound of Hip Hop parts 1 and 2 and an album Goodbye Minnesota.
There are no plans for any further Hood releases.
...the Cliff Edge of Workaday Morality
Hood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People who are supposed to be intelligent
Can be so cruel to others
Why do they have to follow the wrong path?
It's nothing to do with nature or how the strong survive
We're not animals
To get what you think is yours
Years will pass
And history will show
That you were following the wrong path
The lyrics to Hood's song "The Cliff Edge of Workaday Morality" centralize around the idea of cruelty and the wrong path that people take in order to achieve something they believe is rightfully theirs. Hood speaks to the theme of human nature, and how it does not condone or excuse the actions of those who mistreat others. With the rhetorical statement, "Why do they have to follow the wrong path?" he challenges the mindset of those who harm others to gain success or strength.
Hood's lyrics suggest that the pursuit of selfish desires at the expense of others is not only wrong but also unnecessary, and those who participate in this often destructive act are wasting their time. Hood believes that this behavior will ultimately have consequences, as "Years will pass, and history will show that you were following the wrong path." This line seems to suggest that Hood believes in the idea of karma, that the choices and actions of the present determine the outcomes of the future, and bad deeds will eventually catch up with those responsible for them.
Overall, "The Cliff Edge of Workaday Morality" sets forth a powerful message about the importance of morality and the value of treating others with kindness and respect, regardless of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't understand how
It is beyond my comprehension to fathom
People who are supposed to be intelligent
Individuals who are deemed highly intellectual
Can be so cruel to others
Have the capability to inflict pain or suffering onto fellow beings
Why do they have to follow the wrong path?
What drives them to take the immoral or unjust route?
It's nothing to do with nature or how the strong survive
This has no correlation with the concept of natural selection and the survival of the fittest
We're not animals
Humans do not solely function on instinct and primal urges
(?)
No context provided to interpret
To get what you think is yours
To acquire possessions or assets that one believes they are entitled to
Years will pass
With the passage of time
And history will show
Chronicles will illustrate
That you were following the wrong path
Your actions were misguided and unethical
Contributed by Avery B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.