The path to Pop-N-Downers starts in Swampville, Florida, where Lucy and Wayne park their Bambi Airstream/mobile recording studio whenever they need to plot their next course. That’s where the co-producing couple recorded song demos before heading to Nashville to reunite with Grammy-winning producer Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jack White), who helmed much of Drive Til U Die, at his Sputnik Sound Studio.
The album’s character might be best summarized with a description of its sixth track, “Fireflies,” a lovely, sunny-sounding mid-tempo ballad — with a bite. A similarly airy feel permeates “Shallow Graves,” contrasting directly with the disturbing events to which it alludes
In “Human Condition,” inspired by Bob Dylan on his Theme Time Radio Hourquoting Thomas Fuller, Hymn for Her’s vocals harmonize with a funky, blues ’n’ rockabilly romp: “You’re born crying/you live complaining/and you die disappointed.”
Then there’s “Scoop,” a lighthearted little groover written in the Sputnik Studio lounge at the last minute. The sessions had just ended, so they recorded it back home at Bambi Studios. Their daughter Diver and her friends chime in on the catchy choruses. Diver also plays the mournful violin heard on the gentle, sadly moving “Yard Sale.” And she directly inspired “First Clown on the Moon,” a lively, banjo-driven song about love and joy that mashes Barnum & Bailey together with dream pop.
“Her very first career choice was to be the first ballerina on the moon,” Lucy explains. “A day later, she changed it to first clown on the moon.” (Her grandfather’s fanciful illustration of Diver’s lunar landing appears on the album’s inner sleeve.) When she was much younger, she covered “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” an unlisted 12th track on Drive Til U Die, recorded in the direct-to-acetate booth at Jack White’s Third Man Records in Nashville.
Just as they freely blend styles, H4H also like to make lyrical leaps, jumping from macro worldview to their own intimate, private universe with the ease of trapeze artists. (Maybe that explains the back-cover image of Lucy — also known on social media as @TourinYogi — playing ukulele while doing a full split as a guitar-plucking Wayne hops over her.) A careful listen to “First Clown on the Moon” reveals references to the album’s title and mood inside the lines, “It’s not always what it seems/these rollercoaster dreams. Don’t mean to pop your balloon/I’ll be comin’ down soon.”=
But even when they address the “downer” aspects of our human condition, Hymn for Her leaven those messages with buoyant balloons, reminding us we can still dance with the fireflies and smell the roses ... thorns and all.
Hymn for Her tour dates:
Fri., Sept. 7 REHOBOTH BEACH, DE Dogfish Head Brewery
Sat., Sept. 8 BROOKHAVEN, NY Hamlet Organic Garden
Mon., Sept. 10 NASHVILLE, TN 3rd & Lindsley * AmericanaFest
Wed., Sept. 11 KNOXVILLE, TN Crafty Bastard Brewery
Tues., Sept. 18 GREENCASTLE, IN Taphouse 24
Wed., Sept. 19 GRAND RAPIDS, MI Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill
Thurs., Sept. 20 KALAMAZOO, MI Sandbox Listening Room @ Kal-Tone
Fri., Sept. 21 LAKE CITY, MI Earthwork Harvest Gathering
Sat., Sept. 22 LAKE CITY, MI Earthwork Harvest Gathering
Sun., Sept. 23 FRANKLIN, TN Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
Thurs., Sept. 27 WAUSAU, WI Malarkeys Pub
Fri., Sept. 28 OSSEO, WI Northwoods Brew Pub
Sat., Sept. 29 LAKE NEBAGAMON, WI Wasko's Campground Plus
Sun., Sept. 30 OSSEO, WI Jamies Last Resort
Tues., Oct. 2 STURGEON BAY, WI The Holiday Music Motel
Thurs., Oct. 4 TREMPEALEAU, WI The Historic Trempealeau Hotel
Fri., Oct. 5 EAU CLAIRE, WI The Pablo Center at the Confluence
Sat., Oct. 6 EAGAN, MN Bald Man Brewing
Wed., Oct. 10 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO Front Range
Thurs. Oct. 11 DENVER, CO Mile High Spirits
Fri., Oct. 12 FRUITA, CO Hot Tomato Pizzaria
Sat., Oct. 13 DOLORES, CO Dolores River Brewing Company
Thurs., Oct., 18 DENVER, CO Cervantes
Fri., Oct. 19 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO Front Range
Thurs., Oct. 25 GOLDEN, CO New Terrain Brewing
Fri., Oct. 26 FRISCO, CO 10 Mile Music Hall *venue opening night
Sat., Oct. 27 FORT COLLINS, CO The Elizabeth Hotel
Thurs., Nov. 1 SALINA, KS The Voo
Fri., Nov., 2 KANSAS CITY, MO Westport Saloon
Sat., Nov. 4 LAWRENCE, KS venue TBD
Tues., Nov. 6 AKRON, OH The Rialto Theatre
Thurs. November 8, Arkport, NY Savor Vineyards and Wine
Fri., Nov. 9 CORNING, NY The Rockwell Museum
Sun., Nov. 11 HAMMONDSPORT, NY Stueben Brewing Company
Thurs., Nov. 15 NASHUA, NH Riverwalk Cafe & Music Bar
Sat., Nov. 17 ELLSWORTH, ME Fogtown Brewing Co.
Fri., Nov. 23 STOCKHOLM, ME Eureka Hall
Sat., Nov. 24 STOCKHOLM, ME Eureka Hall
Sat., Dec. 8 MOUNT AIRY, MD Milkhouse Brewery
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