Real Groove writes in it’s “Top Deadline Distractions” that the Haints album “has been dominating the stereo of late. Its slow lugubrious tones match the bitter chill outside, and this Tex Houston-produced beauty recalls prior local winners like the Renderers”

The Haints of Dean Hall are Stephen (formerly of the Subliminals), who lives in Auckland, and Kathryn, who resides in a small town near Melbourne, Australia. Their debut album was recorded during a brief visit Kathryn made to Auckland in the summer of 2005 around a few guitar tracks Stephen had composed. Kathryn was invited to put down vocals and provide some lyrics, most of which were impromptu. Around the sleeps of a five week old baby, the delicate and dusty songs were recorded anywhere that was far away enough as not to wake her up, using one mike and mostly acoustic guitar, in sessions that extended deep into the night. What initially started as a “wonder what would happen if” unfolded before them as ideas were jammed, structures worked out and main tracks put down in a day.

The songs are sung snatches of memory, of guarded references to a ‘Carteresque’ family album of ‘manners and mystery’. The CD artwork also reflects this; featuring still life photographs taken by Kathryn on one of many trips to the American South. Kathryn’s fascination with this part of the world, as well as her own upbringing around the Bunnythorpe area in the Manawatu, grants a natural cultural crossover in her mind. Stephen’s very distinctive guitar is often ghostly and yet occasionally brash. He has turned the squalling feedback sounds (that were his trademark in the Subliminals) in on themselves, resulting in sparse and delicate textures.

After the initial summer 2005 recordings, Kathryn returned to New Zealand for the final writing and completion of the remaining tracks. However, as the original late night sessions contained a certain organic and spontaneous magic, little was changed. Tex Houston, also known for sliding the faders on various 3Ds and Subliminals recordings, was bought in for the final mixing and mastering. The end result is a fragile, rural and low volume contemplative sound; where Julie Cruise meets the Carter Family

A haint is a southern term for a ghostly steam rising off the road, often mistaken to be a ghost, as explained by Harper Lee in "To Kill A Mockingbird". Dean Hall is the old road hall Kathryn and Stephen imagined the recording to have taken place, the sound they wanted was the sound that might have been created in this empty wooden space.

Yes we know we released this as a digital stores only release a few months ago…well, guess what, we’ve decided to make it the first release on the Arch Hill Free Range.

We think it is a pretty great album, so, if you like gentle but unusual haunting music – then this is for you.

Mystery Girl Presents, JuiceTV and the bnets present

JOSE GONZALEZ
on the 'In Our Nature' New Zealand Tour '08

plus special guests 'The Haints Of Dean Hall'

Auckland
8th January, Bruce Mason Centre
plus local guests The Tea Cups
Tickets from Real Groovy and Ticketmaster

Wellington
9th January, The Opera House
plus local guests Rosy Tin Teacaddy
Tickets from Ticketek

Thursday Jan 10th - Queenstown - Peregrene Winery

- Tickets from Ticketdirect

Returning for his third visit and his first national tour of New Zealand, Jose Gonzalez brings not only accompanying musicians, but also a whole new album of material to add to the magnificent 2005 album 'Veneer' which spawned such hits as 'Heatbeat', 'Lovestain' and 'Crosses.
‘In Our Nature’ is sonically similar to the debut album, though it’s more open and more focused on melodies. Everything is recorded on tape in Gothenburg, but not before José had practiced everything very thoroughly. When the songs sounded good on the voice recorder he dared to record them for real. After that it happened quickly: it didn’t take more than two weeks to record the ten songs, which include current bnet fav 'Down the Line' and a haunting cover of Massive Attacks 'Teardrop'

Jose Gonzalez is a Swedish-born singer-songwriter of Argentinean descent whose debut album, 'Veneer (Gold+ sales in New Zealand) is a stunning collection of subdued acoustic folk music stamped with his trademark sound of a solo classical guitar with soft melody.
Gonzalez's sensual and sensitive vocals blend with his gifted classical guitar style to recall underground folk favorites such as Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, Hayden, and Mark Kozelek. His work, although mostly original, does include acoustic covers of such hits as "Heartbeats" by his fellow Swedes The Knife, "Love Will Tear Us Apart", by Joy Division, "Hand On Your Heart" by Kylie Minogue and "Teardrop" by Massive Attack.
At his 2006 Auckland show (performing as a three piece) he enthralled and delighted the audience with his perfect reproduction of songs from 'Veneer' as well as a few covers of his favourite artists. At his 2007 Auckland solo show he previewed 'In Our Nature' to a select few (200) to enthusiastic applause and great anticipation for the forth coming album.
As part of the shows, Arch Hill Recording artists The Haints of Dean Hall will perform as well as local supports, all new upcoming artists.

As previously mentioned the Haints of Dean Hall will be out with Jose Gonzalez (who was recently heard talking the Haints up on Sydney's Triple JJJ radio) in Jan 2008 and also doing a few of their own shows...
Tues 8th Jan, The Bruce Mason Centre – with Jose Gonzales
Wed 9th Jan, The Opera House, Wellington – with Jose Gonzales
Thurs 10th Jan, Peregrine Winery, Queenstown – with Jose Gonzales (note change from Christchurch to Queenstown)
Friday 11th Jan, the Harbourlight, Christchurch
Saturday 12th Jan, the Dogs Bollix, Auckland – with White Swan Black Swan duo
Sunday 13th Jan, the Leigh Sawmill Café - with White Swan Black Swan duo

The Haints of Dean Hall will be opening for M.Ward when he plays two shows in New Zealand in Janurary 07.

Auckland - Wednesday 10th January - The Dogs Bollix
Wellington - Thursday 11th January - San Francisco Bath House

Tickets on sale nationally from Monday 20 November, at Ticketmaster.co.nz and Real Groovy stores.

 

 

Jul 2006 - The Haints of Dean Hall Album Out Today
An album of beautiful sparse songs by The Haints of Dean Hall is out today on Arch Hill Recordings. Make sure you come along to one of the following release shows;

Friday the 21st of July at the Leigh Sawmill Café with The Broken Heartbreakers Duo
Saturday the 22nd of July at the Odeon in Auckland with Black Swan/White Swan and David Mulcahy
Thursday the 27th July at Bar Bodega in Wellington with Telepathic Kitty

Real Groove writes in it’s “Top Deadline Distractions” that the Haints album “has been dominating the stereo of late. Its slow lugubrious tones match the bitter chill outside, and this Tex Houston-produced beauty recalls prior local winners like the Renderers”

The Haints of Dean Hall are Stephen (formerly of the Subliminals), who lives in Auckland, and Kathryn, who resides in a small town near Melbourne, Australia. Their debut album was recorded during a brief visit Kathryn made to Auckland in the summer of 2005 around a few guitar tracks Stephen had composed. Kathryn was invited to put down vocals and provide some lyrics, most of which were impromptu. Around the sleeps of a five week old baby, the delicate and dusty songs were recorded anywhere that was far away enough as not to wake her up, using one mike and mostly acoustic guitar, in sessions that extended deep into the night. What initially started as a “wonder what would happen if” unfolded before them as ideas were jammed, structures worked out and main tracks put down in a day.

The songs are sung snatches of memory, of guarded references to a ‘Carteresque’ family album of ‘manners and mystery’. The CD artwork also reflects this; featuring still life photographs taken by Kathryn on one of many trips to the American South. Kathryn’s fascination with this part of the world, as well as her own upbringing around the Bunnythorpe area in the Manawatu, grants a natural cultural crossover in her mind. Stephen’s very distinctive guitar is often ghostly and yet occasionally brash. He has turned the squalling feedback sounds (that were his trademark in the Subliminals) in on themselves, resulting in sparse and delicate textures.

. After the initial summer 2005 recordings, Kathryn returned to New Zealand for the final writing and completion of the remaining tracks. However, as the original late night sessions contained a certain organic and spontaneous magic, little was changed. Tex Houston, also known for sliding the faders on various 3Ds and Subliminals recordings, was bought in for the final mixing and mastering. The end result is a fragile, rural and low volume contemplative sound; where Julie Cruise meets the Carter Family

A haint is a southern term for a ghostly steam rising off the road, often mistaken to be a ghost, as explained by Harper Lee in "To Kill A Mockingbird". Dean Hall is the old road hall Kathryn and Stephen imagined the recording to have taken place, the sound they wanted was the sound that might have been created in this empty wooden space.

If you would like to hear some of the Hants of Dean Hall head along to their myspace page http://www.myspace.com/thehaintsofdeanhall