Hunter Not The Hunted... And Also The Trees

And Also The Trees are one of the greatest post-punk/gothic bands, present and active for nearly 40 years, with seminal albums and a big influence in the genre. “Hunter Not The Hunted” is their 12th official album, released in 2011. It is a record that showcases the band’s maturity and the experience they gained in the past decades. It’s a calm, melancholic album which sounds to me like a really good and successful collaboration between Nick Cave and Mark Sandman. Of course, I’m not implying any plagiarism or lack of originality, it’s just that I’m not that much acquainted with their music as I am with the other two artists mentioned. However, this album is a treat to the ears as well as to the heart. Although on the quieter side of things, "Hunter Not The Hunted" is an album of incredible intensity. It sounds puzzling but wonderful, melancholic yet dignified, centered around a mood that is hard to describe. Simon Huw Jones assured suggestive voice is perfectly accompanied by Justin Jones’ shimmering guitars. The atmosphere is brilliantly complemented by the tamed rhythm section which supports the soloists with a sophisticated sense for ambient music.

Upon its release, “Hunter not the Hunted” reinforced And Also The Trees’ as masters of atmosphere, melody, and drama. The album was recorded in the heart of England and a dilapidated house in France during an uncharacteristically cold summer which, some suggest, influenced the atmosphere of the music. Lyrically, this is probably Simon Huw Jones’ best work so far. In fact, the group presented ‘Hunter not the Hunted’ as an entire ‘novel’ of an album. It is a record that will occupy your attention immediately and, after that, slowly and gently push you towards its end without you even noticing it. And yes, you will play it again, at least once more. Absolutely fantastic!

And Also the Trees are an English post-punk band, formed in 1979 in Inkberrow, Worcestershire. They are notable for their poetic lyrics and evocative music which are strongly influenced by the native English countryside. The band made their live debut on 12 January 1980 at Grieg Memorial Hall in Alcester. A home demo tape was sent to the Cure, who were looking for support bands on their tour, leading to a friendship between the two bands. In 1981, And Also the Trees played several shows in support of the Cure's UK tour. Their second demo tape, From Under the Hill (1982), was partly co-produced by Robert Smith and Mike Hedges. The band received the attention of BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel and were invited to do a session in April 1984 which additionally uplifted their career. The 2016 “Born Into the Waves” is their latest record, being their fourteenth official album. And Also the Trees are still touring.