Pickled Egg / EGG42 10″ mini-album (2002)
Hassle Hound’s debut record released on Pickled Egg Records.
Reviews:
“This Scottish band consists of Tony Swain (guitar & samples), Lizzy Swimmers (vocals & violin), David Fulford (electronics & keyboards) and Mark Vernon (electronics & samples). This 10″ mini album is their debut release, though they have several releases coming out almost simultaneously on Twisted Nerve and Textile Records in Europe. Like many of the incredible Pickled Egg roster these folks delight in genre defying. Their extensive use of odd samples recalls People Like Us, musically they resemble a whimsical jazz band playing toy instruments, Young Marble Giants demos, or Cale era Velvets in a mellow mood, and surrealistic electronic loopery flailing it’s tendrils at the moon with a real band bubbling under the surface. Easy listening strings circle and cycle, while antiquated radio voices read fairy tales, or fragments of children’s stories. Bright, colorful, upbeat with stoned candy puzzles, and collaged delights in the corners, and running along the hedges.”
George Parsons, Dream Magazine #4
http://www.dreamgeo.com
“Glasgow’s Hassle Hound have everything going for them. Hassle Hound won my nomination for best band name plus my nomination for best album title. The excellent packaging for ‘Scaring the Grass in the Garden’ from Pickled Egg comes with stunning innovative lo-jazz versus nu-This Heat sound. Performed very affectionally ‘Scaring the Grass In the Garden’ cut a deep impression on the first listen. These precious nine songs build the finest momentum of the year so far. Hassle Hound’s sense of experimentation is combined with genuine talent.”
Maarten Scheithar, Penny Black music
“Sweet little mixture of countryish folky guitar tracks with a smattering of electronics and quite a few sampled vocal quotes popping up throughout the proceedings. Some lovely mouth harp and violin work. Quite melancholic in places, but keeping a sense of humour so as not to get too sugary. Hats off the Pickled Egg!!!”
Small fish
“Spanning Huddersfield, Warsaw and Glasgow, Hassle Hound are the electronic and melodic product of 4 musicians, one of whom makes his living through kites and the flying of said kites. Certainly not four teens in the drummer’s Dad’s garage style ensemble these. However their diverse backgrounds make for one bafflingly good record which intersperses affecting guitar strokes with random non-sequital vocal samples and found-sound beeps and clacks. ‘Rickety Venue’ is like the soundtrack to a Twin Peaks Arabian fantasy, whilst ‘Crickets & Castbirds’ is French Jazz farting from a crackly old wireless. ”
Skif, Vanity Project Issue 6