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.
Winter Politics
Hood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leave nothing but the dust from your skin
Why do i have to push you away?
Why do i have to push you away?
You can or you cant breathe in.
The lyrics of Hood's song Winter Politics evoke a sense of melancholy and loss, as the singer contemplates the passing of time and the inevitable changes that come with it. The opening line, "Where will you go when summer has gone?" sets the tone for the song, suggesting a sense of longing and uncertainty about the future. The imagery of leaving "nothing but the dust from your skin" reinforces this feeling of impermanence, as if everything is shifting and changing.
The chorus repeats the question, "Why do I have to push you away?" which suggests a sense of regret and maybe loss. The repetition of this question emphasizes the singer's confusion and frustration about why things are the way they are. In contrast, the final line of the chorus, "You can or you can't breathe in," feels like a resigned acceptance of fate. The struggle to push someone away, to hold on to things that are fleeting, ultimately leads to a sense of helplessness and letting go.
Overall, the lyrics of Winter Politics are a meditation on change and the difficulties of navigating the passing of time. Through haunting imagery and a plaintive melody, the song evokes a sense of loss and introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
Where will you go when summer has gone?
Once summer has ended, what plans or actions do you have?
Leave nothing but the dust from your skin
When you depart, do so without leaving behind any emotional scars or pain.
Why do I have to push you away?
Why must you force me to distance myself from you?
Why do I have to push you away?
Why must you force me to distance myself from you?
You can or you can't breathe in.
You have the choice to either enjoy the cold winter air or to suffer from the discomfort it brings.
Contributed by Lillian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.