NEED-TO-KNOW TUNES – The Oh Hello’s

Kyle Florence kflor654@uwsp.edu

Too often in our society, beautiful art, which has the potential to change lives, sculpt individuals, and alter the ways in which we think, goes unnoticed.

This is especially true in regards to music, whose more thoughtful messengers are often overshadowed by a maelstrom of cookie-cutter acts all strumming the same four-chord progression.

For this reason, we at The Pointer present you with Need-To-Know Tunes, a weekly column dedicated to highlighting not necessarily the newest releases, but rather the totally awesome one’s that, for one reason or another, you may have missed.

Through the Deep, Dark Valley

The Oh Hello’s

For Fan’s of:

Mumford and Son’s “Awake My Soul”, The Lumineer’s “Ho Hey”,

The Middle East’s “Blood”

The Scoop:

In a nutshell, The Oh Hello’s started in late 2011 when Texas-native Tyler Heath, who had been writing and recording his own music for four years prior, joined forces with his sister Maggie Heath to create an eclectic folk rock band. Since releasing their self-titled EP shortly after forming, the duo has toured extensively under their grammatically rousing moniker, garnering a small, but devoted fan base. A little over a year ago, the outfit released their first full-length record, Through the Deep Dark Valley, a self-proclaimed concept album which is meant to be listened to in one sitting, chronologically. And it rules.

Why It Rules:

For an independent release, Through the Deep Dark Valley is arranged beautifully and though the band has been intentionally vague as to the album’s broader concept, each song fits together like some kind of folk- infused puzzle piece. Headstrong tracks, like the toe-tapping “Second Child, Restless Child” spring forward with the exuberance of a kid on Christmas, only to be paralleled by more somber, poignant tunes, such as the beautifully haunting “Wishing Well”, or the relentlessly uplifting “I Have Made Mistakes.” Additionally, the chemistry between the siblings is both impeccable and apparent. Though both phenomenally gifted singers in their own right, the duo’s harmonies are truly breathtaking and will surely prove a treat for fans of Mumford and Son’s and other similar acts. The instrumentation, though not genre bending in any way, makes a point to never overstep its boundaries, while each infectious melody seems more unforgettable than the last, often preaching topics of maturation and growth through personal struggle. Better still, this gem can be listened to and downloaded in full on the band’s website for free, so your excuse for not checking it out is already invalid–trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Stand-Out Tracks:

“Eat You Alive”, “The Wishing Well”, “In Memoriam”