Hookworms, Oval Space

Although we know that they were founded in 2010 and hail from Yorkshire, Hookworms remain an enigma. The five initialed members – JN, JW, MB, MJ and MS – do not so much cultivate a deliberate anonymity as choose to ignore the egotistical PR mill of modern rock music. In March, fresh from supporting reformed shoegaze legends Slowdive, they are returning to London to headline Oval Space. For anyone with a passion for the psychedelic, this will be an unmissable evening.
They surfaced with a self-titled cassette, released by Texan drone magnate Sun Araw. A reputation for thunderous live shows followed, with audiences both entranced and drained by the constant swirling grooves.
It was 2013’s Pearl Mystic, however, that really established the band as a force to be reckoned with. Featuring prominently on numerous End of the Year lists, it gave lie to the notion that psychedelia was dead. Extended opener ‘Away / Towards’ lay down the blueprint, fusing the propulsive beats of krautrock with echoing howls and distorted fuzz to create something fleshy and transfixing. ‘Form and Function’ juxtaposes mantra-like call and response vocals with ever-mounting fuzz. Comparisons could be drawn with contemporaries Wooden Shjips and Goat, but Hookworms seem more concentrated, more focused in their assault.
With new record The Hum, Hookworms become even tighter. ‘Radio Tokyo’ and ‘The Impasse’ are compact bursts of wild abandon, anchored around some of the band’s strongest vocals. And with the likes of ‘Off Screen,’ they have created works of astounding, blissful beauty. With a roster of songs able to match their famed live intensity, there has never been a better time to catch them.