Clear the throat, gentle wave to all, a nod or two to a friendly face likely….

Hey. We’re Hope Of Th’States….again. Different from last time. Older for one. Some folk had kids, some left town, came back to town, crossed the sea to another place.

Brother Ant didn’t fancy the tap dance so he’s doing his own elsewhere. It’s all good. No drama. There’s enough of that elsewhere. 

Anyway, we’ve been on this Skynet picture show hawking this whole back from the dead schtick a while now. Apologies if it’s dull, or feels boastful or is just another shard of digital tinnitus making you feel all ‘Falling Down’. That ain’t our intention, but we get it.

Anyway, we just wanted to say something about this first thing, the first song, or whatever it is that we made. It was hammered together so quickly in Spring 24. One of those magic ones, like someone tied a string around your waist and pulled and pulled you onwards. Forward. To the end. Piece and part by part until you just stand back and look at this sweet/angry/drifting/defiant monolith you made and stand proud in the shadow of it. Felt just the same as it always did. Always running after that foreverandever. Amen.

Anyway, we spoke to some folk (who we have thanked and will forever thank) who gave us the confidence to build that thing again but properly this time. So we went to the sea with JT and we got to the real work of it. The amps crackling and the leads bust and the headphones don’t fit and God it was so hot. And we drank the weird canned water and we drank the cold beers and the too much wine and smoked all of the cigarettes and we built this thing. The five of us and JT. And Jason on the assist. And JR on the johanna and screwdriver. And Craig on the cameras. And Eddie on the hang. And Francesca on the magic cello. And we built this thing. Amen.

Anyway, it was done and we were and are kind of shook by it. Because it was made right, on that perfect line of pure spook and sorcery versus sweat and ache and hard effort. And we are proud of it. And very grateful to have had the chance to make it. And think it’s a worthwhile thing. And earns its great span. And we hope you feel the same. Not everything needs to be small and quiet and polite. Not everything needs to fit into this algorithmic Amazonian ever narrowing corridor hellscape some other grim demons ushered us into. Not everything. And this doesn’t. Amen. 

Anyway, I’ve been awake since 3.30am, I just saw a million birds fly over my house which was a sight. The song is called Long Waits In A & E and we sincerely hope it means something to you. Amen.

Hope Of The States, Halloween 2024

all hum always

heaven beyond THz

the end sends no warning

X