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Biography
Hopeful are still young and though in their early twenties, the
subject matter as well as its musical accompaniment carry a weight
and maturity not to be expected. Yet youthful energy and of course
hope abound side by side with a sometimes cynical and always insightful
world view. Perhaps it was this contradiction that provided these
five Spaniards with the title to their debut album for Defiance
Records, “Opposites.” The word “opposites”
can also imply conflict or opposition. This too is Hopeful: opposed
to war, opposed to automated living, opposed to industrialization,
opposed to exploitation. Sound familiar? Of course it does, but
does that make it any less relevant? The boys of Hopeful say “No
fucking way!”
Emerging from the swinging town of Sant Feliu de Guíxols,
famous for it's Sant Feliu festival, Hopeful was formed in 1997
when a gang of childhood friends found in one another a common
love of music. A short seven years later with a demo, a six song
MCD and a ground-breaking debut-album, “Structure,”
under their belts, these five Spaniards are once again kickin'
out the jams. And so they have with “Opposites,” recorded
in June of 2003 with veteran producers Santí García
and Xavi Navarro, (Standstill, Aina, One Man and His Droid).
As is so often the case with art of any form, no label adequately
describes the sound of “Opposites.” Is this hardcore
(Gramathics), sludge (Unclear), noise (Deadpan) or pure rock (The
Coming Sun)? The answer is of course somewhere in between. Hopeful
has been able to maintain an original voice yet at the same time
hailing comparisons to bands such as Refused, Helmet, The Hope
Conspiracy and Poison the Well. While crediting influences such
as Will Haven and Vision of Disorder, the boys of Hopeful are
not about to wet themselves if a little melody finds its way into
the music. What more is there to say, this is an album that screams
to be heard again and again.
Pictures
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