From first glance, one can tell “Collywobble” is going to be a journey of sorts. The combination of mystical imagery and an apparently troubled seascape pasted up against a weathered burgundy background tips you off from the get-go. And sure enough, a journey it is. But let’s start at the beginning.
Hectorina is a trio comprised of local singer-songwriter, Dylan Gilbert and friends, Zachary Jordan and John Harrell III, and “Collywobble” is their theatrical (yet still super listenable) latest album.
The album is a rock opera starring Jonah Collywobble, an lonely astronaut who has just returned home to Earth and finds himself befriending a wildly colorful array of creatures, mischief and misadventure. “Collywobble” is tinged with a sort of wistful nostalgia from the very beginning – sort of like reading Shelley on a rainy night while “Major Tom” plays in the background. The album does a remarkable job of pulling you in and getting you to really listen to the story being told – and that’s the core of “Collywobble”, the story. Split into four acts, “Collywobble” is also exceptionally musical. “The Return to Earth Overture” actually sounds like what is technically known as an overture, or a beginning, to a performance – this clearly isn’t a bunch of kids in their garage messin’ around with big words and even bigger ideas that they can’t handle. This is a musical group that gives you “epic” when they promise “epic,” even down to the subject matter. If it wasn’t enough for you that the hero of the tale is an astronaut, consider that we also meet a terrifying mutated owl and (my personal favorite) a mermaid, amongst others. Aside from the poetry of it all, Hectorina’s sound on “Collywobble” is also tops. While remaining loud and clear, the vocals are not overbearing (as the word “opera” might lead some to think) and lend well to melodic, catchy tunes that run the gamut from waltzy and haunting to fast-paced and energetic. Hectorina also plays with many genres of sound on “Collywobble”, mixing in equal parts noise rock, psychedelic and a dash of glam rock for good measure.
Catch Hectorina:
Sun Sept 15th – The Milestone (Charlotte NC)
w/ Serfs, GT & Loebs
Thurs Sept 19th – The Chop Shop (Charlotte NC)
Opening for Man Man
Weds Oct 16th – The Courtroom (Rock Hill SC)
Thurs Oct 17th – TYP Haus (Greensboro NC)
Sat Oct 26th – The Milestone (Charlotte NC)
HALLOWEEN SHOW!
Fri Nov 8th – Tin Roof (Charleston SC)
Sat Nov 9th – Conundrum (Columbia SC)
Sat Nov 16th – Roux (Charlotte NC)
w/ Bless These Sounds Under The City
http://www.hectorina.com
http://hectorina.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/hectorinamusic
“Collywobble” is available at Lunchbox Records or as well as online at iTunes, Bandcamp and Amazon.
Mme. Mila V. 