Halfloves and the emotional ascensions of "Hospice"

 

"Slowly fade into the black / Medications and operations could never keep the reaper back..."

You know you are getting old when you have walked up the seesaw of life so far that you are tipped in a permanent downward slide. When you have less years left than have passed before you that realization starts to make you feel numb. Suddenly each day seems to evaporate in front of you and life's remembrances might feel like a steamy mirage on hot Arizona asphalt. Once your contemporary inspirational iconic artists pass on it really hits you. For me it was David Bowie no longer existing and the realization that those in their 20's will be more moved by the likes of Harry Styles than Ziggy Stardust. 

I thought about this when listening to the beautiful and moving "Hospice" by Iowa's rock indie Halfloves. I mean, pushing play on a song with such a dreadfully sad title did give me pause but the running guitar patterns, embracing vocal harmonies and musical / emotional urgency here take something painful, utterly human and deeply sad feel somehow uplifting. The lyrics poetic, though darkly drawn. remind us to keep loved ones who have passed constantly in our heads and hearts if only like a fond ghost lurking. 

"Shadows creeping up the walls / Watch you sleeping on your bed / I see your chest as it rises and falls / You’re the one that I will always love / Bottom of my heart to the top of my lungs"

Maybe at the saddest time, not saying anything can mean as much as fumbling for words and, to that point, the ramping up musical interlude (that give way to an emotional lyrical refrain) and then outros out so powerfully during the last third of "Hospice" stays with you. In fact, it inhabited my thoughts as I drifted off to sleep last night hoping to dream of those many loved ones on the other side. 

-Robb Donker Curtius

Halfloves · Hospice

+ + +

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://soundcloud.com/halfloves/sets/halfloves

https://www.facebook.com/halfloves/

https://twitter.com/halflovesband

https://open.spotify.com/artist/56m6wuZbLa1K67o4DVVW8u

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8kFnd59NOlsAKBUuyZ2Bgg

https://halfloves.bandcamp.com/album/halfloves

https://www.instagram.com/halflovesband/

http://halfloves.com/

Iowa indie rock act Halfloves preps release of new single Hospice, December 6, 2022. A lot of music could be described as an escape but this song is more about an embrace. As the title suggests, it focuses on death; mainly from the perspective of family and younger generations. Death will forever be a mysterious, circular element of life. This song attempts to capture both the sadness and grief of death while also embracing its powerful capacity to bring about renewed perspective and appreciation for those we love as they bridge the gap between here and the hereafter.

Halfloves, Iowa, Indie Rock, story telling, sadness, grief, existential dread, angst, untapped knowledge, wonderment, "Hospice", family, love, death,