HOAX – b?
“What do you think will work if you combine such genres as Surf and Indie Rock? You will be surprised at what miracles sometimes take place in a musical world in which such amazing imagination tracks are born. Positive, warmth and love that pour over the edge of sweeping away everything in their path!” (Automatically Translated with Google Translate)
“Как вы думаете, что получится, если совместить такие жанры, как Surf и Indie Rock? Вы удивитесь, какие чудеса порой происходят в музыкальном мире, в котором рождаются такие потрясающие воображение треки. Позитив, тепло и любовь, которые льются через край сметая всё на своём пути!”
-Nagamag.com
Indie / Alternative band HOAX released b? – the long-awaited narrative-driven debut concept album and a 17-track project detailing the inner workings of being vs. doing.
(stream here) ffm.to/hoax-being.OPR
“If all you are is what you do, how can you ever be?”
The entirety of the album is best characterized by its title track, “b?”, which happens to also be the exact center point as well. The whole idea of transitioning from a DO-er to a BE-er is embodied by the themes focused around the idea of BEING. The narrative told isn’t meant to be esoteric or grand; instead, it is just a simple truth boiled down to a quiet realization:
“Honestly, this life moves like a daydream, caught between how the way it goes ain’t always the way it seems. So lovely, cut right through all the ugly feelings faced, cause the way they are ain’t always the way we should be.”
QUOTE
“Behind all the facades we put up, under all the masks we wear – there we are: Ourselves in Being form. It used to be very hard for me to explain what it meant ‘to be’ to other people. And believe me – I know I am not original in this line of questioning. For God’s sake, we all know what Shakespeare said through Hamlet, but as the album developed, it became clear to me that ‘being’ is synonymous with ‘peace’. And that peace looks different in everyone’s mirror. It starts with self-reflection, and never ends with anything other than life devotion to your truest form. I’ve said it so many times throughout our career, but if there is anything you take away from listening to HOAX and this album, it's to please prioritize your peace. We are only here for a moment in the blip of infinity, and during that blink, our peace and being will always be under the scrutiny of the randomness and chaos of life. Perfect the art of sitting still, to know yourself, show and embody empathy, and be authentic to your peace.”
-Michael Raj
Reviewed by Nagamag on September 8, 2022