Category: Music

<p><em>Aurovine blog, July 2013. </em><br /><br /><br />Bluesy, quirky pop with a touch of vaudeville is a somehow inadequate stab at describing the wonderful and slightly eccentric world of hooyoosay. <br /><br />Listening to the new EP, consisting of "Don't You Lie To Me" and "Yooplaaa!", you could be forgiven if you assumed hooyoosay were happy-go-lucky comedy pranksters, but rather this EP marks a slight summery departure from a more guitar blues orientated band that shuns new technology in preference for vintage analogue gear and an earthier recording process. <br /><br />There's a colour-faded 60's retro feel, which, like their penchant for segueing videos and songs, seems to fit perfectly with an innocent take on counter-culture. At times reminding me of Squeeze and Flipron and yet on songs like "Time Is On My Side" and "Whos Been Sleeping Here", from their album of lesser known Rolling Stones material, you can appreciate the earthy blues valve amp sound that permeates their catalogue. <br /><br />The latter tunes are from the French band's full-length "In Dekay", a veritable treat for fans of sixties flower power and further reworkings of the more obscure Rolling Stones songs. You are transported back in time to a simpler world when guitars were guitars, vocals were vocals and coolness was invented! A range of styles from country, rock and roll and blues across 22 tracks will interest Stones aficionados and lovers of back-to-basics blues-rock alike. <br /><br />Aside from their material, little is known about hooyoosay. My guess about them being French is purely based on speculation. Furthermore, no contributors are mentioned (hence the name) and the polish suggests that this project could be one big secret! <br /><br />Listen to more hooyoosay at http://hooyoosay.aurovine.com/<br />Visit the hooyoosay official website http://hooyoosay.com<br /><br /><br /><em>Original online publication:</em> <br />http://www.aurovine.com/blog/2013/07/summer-is-here-things-are-getting-better-introducing-hooyoosay/#.UdyKIm15frY<br /><br /></p>

<p>"Don't you lie to me" is hooyoosay's cartoony new single. <br />It evokes comedy, crazy movies and video games. <br />The fun vibe is felt straight from the intro, which is a sort of chiptune techno riff that sounds like an electronic super kazoo. <br />When the vocal comes in, its cartoony character is felt immediately, and the playful spirit of the song is confirmed further on by the cheesy but amusing toy organ solo, almost saying "Me? Lie? No... or maybe ... just a ... just a little white lie". <br />The production evokes this old school europop sound, reminiscent of the early days of MTV, and perfectly fits the context of marrying a modern dance beat to a standard 12-bar rock 'n' roll scheme. <br />For "Don't you lie to me" is in origin a blues song, written by Hudson Whittaker. <br />Eh, blues, ... for a fun song?!? <br />Yep! These old blues lyrics often did have an underlying sense of humor! Really.</p>

<p>Mainstream indie-dance-pop seventies-rock with a post-punk twist: hooyoosay's new single "My obsession" cannot easily be labeled with a simple one-word tag.</p><p>Their rendition of the song brings a fresh and innovative, catchy and intriguing approach to a rather obscure 1967 Rolling Stones track.</p><p>Contrary to the coarse and roaring Rolling Stones signature original, hooyoosay's whispery and sensual lead vocal interprets the song lyrics in such a way that a slightly humorous but definitely light-hearted undertone is added.</p><p>The overall sound is reminiscent of late seventies rock, a good dose of Ian Dury-like characteristics being injected.</p><p>At the same time the hypnotic drum beats give the track enough of a contemporary dance-feel to possibly also appeal to listeners of Rihanna, Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and the likes.</p><p>Still the whole package breathes a gentle softness, clearing it from the fatiguing impact that some stellar productions occasionally might impose.</p><p>For the so-called b-side, hooyoosay chose to record Allen Toussaint's "Pain in my heart" in a modest arrangement, as an intimate, melancholic, acoustic jazzy blues ballad.</p><p>If you'd have missed to notice their full album "In dekay" before, this new single, combining the verve of "My obsession" and the gloominess of "Pain in my heart", makes for a compelling introduction to hooyoosay.</p>