Hello Forever's 'Whatever It Is' is Anything but Ordinary
By Thomas Rodriguez
“Every day could be paradise”
This is Hello Forever’s mantra on “Farm On The Mountaintop,” a standout track from their forthcoming record, Whatever It Is (released February 21). It’s sugary sweet, delivered with sincerity and a background of bliss that you won’t find too often today, though it was constant throughout much of the ‘60s most popular rock music.
If this talented group’s latest artistic efforts could be called anything, it’s blissful. Whatever It Is is a strong ode to the days of the Beatles, featuring some nice writing and instrumentation from Hello Forever that never manages to be cliche, simply joyous.
Whatever It Is’ biggest strength is its soundscape: if you can imagine the album that would play whilst you roll in a field of flowers as the Teletubbies sun looks down upon you, it’s this album. Folk-y vocal harmonies are abundant, combined with the sticky hooks of tracks like the dense “Some Faith.” The beats are always building, with the addition of a new guitar riff or drum roll to each section, it builds some wonderful dynamics alongside more modern production like in the meditative “Rise.”
Frontman Samuel Joseph’s vocals add another layer to each song; it’s a high-pitched siren call that manages to wrap both exciting and quiet moments in a neat bow. “Yeah Like Whatever” is a great example of this vocal strength.
Despite the fun, pleasurable vibe of the record, Hello Forever doesn’t forgo volume or experimentation. “Natural” features plenty of fuzzed-out guitar; “Get it Right” is a multi-phased rock song that never manages to become confusing or disjointed, each section bleeding wonderfully into each other. The lavishness of the album’s sound and atmosphere is like a Thanksgiving dinner; whenever you think you’ve had enough, a new sound or instrument appears like a side dish to stuff you even more.
On the lyrical side of Whatever It Is, the bliss continues, but not without some good tension. Love, self-realization, and confusion are all elements of the band’s songwriting that stands to be effective (and even touching at points). “I Want to Marry You” is a beautiful ballad; the sincerity in Joseph’s vocals captures the feeling of eternal affection. “Created For Your Love” is an interesting ode to exploring and appreciating long-distance relationships; the lone acoustics and melancholy bells emphasize the hopeless situation in a hauntingly beautiful way. The best way to describe the writing here is personally gleeful—even when the band is down, they always manage to find light somewhere, whether in a loved one or in their environment.
Positivity isn’t something you’ll find in a lot of indie music today, and that’s why Whatever It Is works for me, and will no doubt work for you. While it is a huge, possibly too big, ode to the Beatles’ pop music, it never becomes too nostalgic. It is happiness music-ified and is worth a listen for its unique lyrical and instrumental chops. Check it out!
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