The Mother Hips from When We Disappear

The Mother Hips from When We Disappear

The Mother Hips (from When We Disappear on Blue Rose Music) (by Lee Zimmerman)

A band based in Northern California, The Mother Hips represent one of the last of a forgotten breed of West Coast rockers whose musical ideals can be traced back to a long line of legendary predecessors most of whom stretch back to the late ‘60s. Those referenced include the Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield, Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Byrds, Moby Grape, and any number of other harbingers of hippie happenstance. Naturally then, as a revered Bay Area outfit, they take stock in a certain amount of rootsy reflection, tinged by the slightest hint of a psychedelic sound.

With twelve albums behind them and a collective career that goes back more than three decades, the band maintains its momentum courtesy of cofounders Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono. Naturally then, the music they share on their newest opus, When We Disappear — an ironic album title to be sure, especially considering their sustained endurance — still stays true to their low-fi origins. The easy amble of the title track and the breezy tones of “Lost Out the Window” and “Leaving the Valley” along with the tuneful travelogue detailed on “Almost to Idaho”, reflect their fondness for Cosmic Cowboy imagery. However other offerings — “She Stepped Away”, “Room Four”, the hint of Funk found on “Iffy Jackpot”, a determined take on the classic Folk Blues of “Codine” in particular — find there’s a certain stamina imbued in their meditative mindset.

All in all, When We Disappear is exactly what one might expect from a band that taps such retro references. While certain songs like “Stories Unborn” and “Spirit of ’98” bring the classic connection front and center, in truth, there’s an unerring waft of nostalgia that echoes throughout the album overall. So, despite The Mother Hips’ apparent fondness for taking a cerebral stance, it’s doubtful they’ll disappear any time soon. (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
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