Hundred Waters, an indie pop group from Florida, gained control and purpose in their second album.
Following their self-titled debut album from 2012, the style of the band seemed to involve many instruments weaving in and out of each other with increasing complexity. But, with “The Moon Rang Like A Bell” the strongest moments lie in layers of slow, building musical moments and far more power and attention to singer Nicole Miglis.
While many songs center around just a piano and Miglis’ voice, others include a little of the intertwining vocal harmonies we saw in the first album, adding a distinct mood with the emotion her lyrics and ever-changing voice bring. The elaborate first album was filled with dense, twisted songs, but “Moon” goes back to a much simpler formula.
The calm, open, raw songs seen on this album resonate, beginning with the opener, “Show Me Love,” and ending with the echoing austerity of “No Sound.”
However, the simplicity causes the songs to drift in and out of focus as the album progresses; the songs do not hold the same interest as in the beginning and seem to blend together. Hundred Waters have strived for uniqueness in this album and have succeeded in avoiding a definite label, but their distinctive sound becomes the same in every song, excluding the unusual “[Animal],” leaving the songs somewhat forgettable.
Grade: B MINUS