Kenotic (CD)

Released February 2005: CD format, 70 minutes. Hammock’s debut. Hailed for its emotional resonance and masterful melding of ambient, shoegaze and electronic, Kenotic was released to a chorus of critical acclaim. Three tracks were featured in NBC’s broadcast of the 2006 Olympic Games, and the record made high profile appearances on NPR, Hearts of Space, and Echoes and spent nine weeks in the College Music Journal’s Top 200 Chart. Kenotic made numerous year end lists for 2005, and since then the record has continued a steady march towards what the All Music Guide predicted would be “classic” status.

Reviews:

"These broad washes of crystalline guitar tones and gently pulsating synths convey a sense of broadness and space..." --The Wire

"Hammock's debut, Kenotic, is in every way a contender for classic status in the shoegazing genre." --James Mason, All Music Guide

"Byrd and Thompson are special visionaries and highly skilled at the craft of making music. This is not simple drone music; it's complex, sophisticated, and dense, but it's also not alienating, pseudo-intellectual, or moribund... Hammock make music that is filled with human emotion and passion... Kenotic is a voyage into the musical spectrums of a sepia-toned world, where subtle differences distinguish joy from sadness, wonder from despair, and resilience from resolve. Barren but not bare, sad but not disheartening, this album speaks its truth plainly..." --Bill Binkleman, Wind and Wire

“Undoubtedly, Kenotic will serve as yet another Music Has a Right to Children (Boards of Canada) for a new generation of aspiring artists. It's rare that we see a collection of songs so intricately constructed and well composed as on Kenotic, which is why Hammock is a force to be reckoned with in the instrumental world” –The Silent Ballet

"Hammock is a blindingly brilliant new talent, and Kenotic is a new way forward for post-rock." --Castor Quinn, Halo 17

"The dichotomies of their aggressively ambient sound suggest a similar range of emotions...slap on the headphones and drift through Hammock low key and gorgeous travelogue." --Brian Baker, Amplifier Magazine

"Astounding album which will be listened to for years to come. My only wish is that it was a 4-CD boxed set!" --Thom Brennan, recording artist

"...the 16-track CD features some amazing guitar work that echoes the spirit of Robert Fripp at his most sublime." --Robert Silverstein MWE 3000

"The disc may well be the best-ever soundtrack for driving across this country's midsection." --Sean Sullivan, Splendid

"Hammock are a lush ambient take on the shoegaze era of the early 90's, sweeping layers of disembodied textured guitars that seem to drift lazily across the audio horizon and then peel away. It's wide-screen listening where ever space is filled with ethereal atmospheres." --Bob Baker Fish, Cyclic Defrost

"Kenotic beckons you to dive into dark waters, but once you choose to float with it, prepare to be enveloped by its melancholy beauty." --Mike G, Ultima Thule

"5/5. This album is the most relaxing, engagingly beautiful, deep merlot wine music I've heard recently..." --Jewels, JIVE Magazine