[rating=8.00]
After relocating to Stockholm from his native town of Umeå in Sweden, Hannes Ferm, aka HOLY, began the process of making his second LP. All These Worlds Are Yours is both similar and different from his debut, Stabs. While both are solidly planted in 60’s era garage-psych rock, this new project has a much more sophisticated and trippy sound right from the start. Where Stabs has a bright pop feel to its songs, All These Worlds Are Yours evokes a much darker feeling in its use of dissonance and effects.
Opening track, “Night on Earth” sets the tone of the album with its experimental effects providing a background for the psych-rock instrumentation in the forefront. The message of the song follows in the vein of psychedelia as Ferm sings of drug experimentation and meeting a version of yourself from the future. Two short tracks, “and she breaks the day! A clarity” and “ððð”, seamlessly follow with atmospheric vocals floating over meandering instrumentals. One of the standout tracks on the album is “premonition / ◯ / it shines through” which feels almost like a rock opera in itself as it incorporates multiple musical themes across its almost seven minutes. Songs like “Dreaming Still?” and the title track almost seem like a montage to Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie complete with themes about space. Whereas the tracks “ৌ alien Life??” and “Wish ㍛” wouldn’t feel too out of place on The Beatles White Album. Of course Ferm makes all these sounds on his own and impeccably crafts sounds that become unmistakably HOLY.
The album’s title derives its name from the title of the book, All These Worlds Are Yours: The Scientific Search for Alien Life, and much of the content of the album is centered on otherworldly themes while also encouraging an inward look to the darkness inside of ourselves. The groovy feelings on the songs make the hour long journey from the album’s opening to the final notes of “In Lack of Light” feel as if no time has passed at all. It may be some time until Ferm tours in North America, but at least we can enjoy the kaleidoscopic songs that here in the meantime.
Photo credit: Marcus Wilén
