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.
Branches Bare
Hood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The orchids thrive
In the dark
I found the night awake
We found dried leaves
Pressed inside the book
Like a stark vision of time
And will the memories be lost
When we lose you
When they clear the house
You lived so many years
No matter how far you are away
I see you in the distance
The distance
We spit in the pond to give the fish something to pray to
Sometimes the sunset doesn’t want to be photographed
We are no tigers in the picked-bone grasslands
Ela dear knows a dork in a thrift store hat
And that is that.
The lyrics to Hood's song "Branches Bare" speak to the idea of loss and memory, specifically the loss of a loved one and the fear of forgetting them. The first stanza seems to suggest a desire to remove something, which is not explicitly defined but could be interpreted as pain or grief. The image of orchids thriving in the dark suggests that even in difficult circumstances, growth and beauty can still occur. The singer then reflects on being awake at night, perhaps unable to sleep due to their thoughts and emotions.
The second stanza introduces a concrete image of dried leaves pressed inside a book. This image serves as a reminder of time passing and the impermanence of life. The repetition of the line "I wish you were still alive" emphasizes the singer's longing for their loved one who has passed away. The third stanza speaks to the fear of losing memories after someone has died. The line "when they clear the house you lived so many years" suggests that the physical spaces where someone lives may hold memories that are at risk of being lost or discarded.
The final stanza is a series of disconnected images and phrases, which may be interpreted as stream-of-consciousness reflections on life and death. The line "we spit in the pond to give the fish something to pray to" is particularly striking and speaks to the human desire to create meaning or ritual where there might not be any. The image of the sunset not wanting to be photographed suggests a moment of natural beauty that cannot be captured or preserved. The final line, "And that is that," feels resigned and final, suggesting that despite our attempts to make sense of life and loss, ultimately we must accept the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Remove that need
Let go of desires and focus on the essentials.
The orchids thrive
The beauty of nature persists regardless of external circumstances.
In the dark
Amidst times of uncertainty, hope can still be found.
I found the night awake
Even when we feel alone, we are not truly alone.
We found dried leaves
Reminders of the past can come unexpectedly.
Pressed inside the book
Memories can be preserved and revisited through various mediums.
Like a stark vision of time
We are faced with the inevitability of change and the passage of time.
I wish you were still alive
Grief is a painful but necessary process in acknowledging the loss of loved ones.
And will the memories be lost
The fear of forgetting those who have passed on is a common sentiment.
When we lose you
Death is a universal experience that affects us all in varied ways.
When they clear the house
Clearing out a loved one's possessions can be emotionally taxing.
You lived so many years
Reflecting on the length and depth of a person's life can offer comfort and perspective.
No matter how far you are away
The bond between individuals can transcend physical distance.
I see you in the distance
The memory of loved ones can stay with us even after they are gone.
We spit in the pond to give the fish something to pray to
Humans often create rituals and traditions to give meaning and structure to their lives.
Sometimes the sunset doesn’t want to be photographed
Not everything in life can be captured or controlled, and that's okay.
We are no tigers in the picked-bone grasslands
Humans are fallible and vulnerable, requiring connection and support from others.
Ela dear knows a dork in a thrift store hat
Random encounters and connections can bring unexpected joy and meaning into our lives.
And that is that.
Life is complex and unpredictable, but it is up to us to find purpose and joy wherever we can.
Contributed by Taylor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.