The Hundred in the Hands

The Hundred in the Hands

23 July, 2010
by: Domzig

Makes us want to move to Brooklyn

If you've ever taken a meander over to the New Releases section of our website, you'll probably know that we're quite hard to please when it comes to reviewing dance-punk bands, and we're usually even harsher when it comes to ones from New York. Who would blame us? After The Rapture, it's all been a bit crap, right? Or at least that's what we thought until someone sent us a copy of The Hundred in the Hands' debut single ‘Dressed in Dresden’ early last year.  A complete post punk gem, filled with staccato guitar and one of the most satisfying drum parts since the late '80s, it’s barely left our office stereo since.

The whole world is filled with synth-pop bands at the moment, so it takes something special to get our attention, which is fortunate as THITH’s new Warp debut is just that. A dark, brooding but unashamedly cool concoction, brewed out of French house, kraut rock, no wave and the odd '60s girl group melody, it’s a record that makes me wish Ultravox had got Siouxsie Sioux to replace John Foxx rather than Midge Urr (sorry Midge...).

Needless to say, you need this band in your life.

The Hundred In The Hands - Ghosts by charmfactory

So how did The Hundred in the Hands start?

Jason (guitars): Well, both me and Eleanor were in a band called Boggs. We started writing what would be become ‘Dressed in Dresden’ whilst we were on tour, and when we got back we decided it would be cool to go into the studio and record it, and it sort of grew from there really.

Eleanor (vocals): It was only meant to be a one-off thing, a sort of experiment in collaborative song writing, but the project has took on a life of its own. Pure Groove got in touch originally and released 'Dressed' last year, we then came over and played a few shows in London, and that’s how the Warp thing came about.

‘Dressed in Dresden’ was such a massive song; did you feel any pressure at all to follow it up?

J: Not really. 'Dressed in Dresden' was always sort of a one-off, and on ‘This Desert’ we really wanted to try some different things. For one thing ‘Dressed’ is such a fast song, and we knew we didn’t really want the whole record to be wholly made up of dance songs, so I think a lot of the songs show the slower, more considered parts of our nature.

How has New York affected your sound?

E: New York is our home, so it’s impossible not to be more than a little affected by all the great things that are happening there. We both live in a pretty vibrant neighbourhood with lots of great bands, and with the whole heritage that the city has, it’s hard not to be inspired.

J: I think one direct aspect of that is the way we play live. We’ve always been inspired by our local hip hop soundsystems where you would be totally blasted with noise, so when it came time to take The Hundred in the Hands live, we decided to use that set-up by putting guitar and vocals over these massive backing tracks.

With all the attention you’re getting from the press here, do you ever feel that you’re more popular over here in London at the moment than you are back in the States?

E: If you would've asked me this question six months ago, I’d probably have said yes, but things have really been picking up Stateside – we’ve just come back from an East Coast tour.

J: That being said, London will always have a bit of a special place in our hearts. You guys were some of the first people to pick up on us.

Who would you most excited to see at one of at one of your gigs?

E: Johnny Marr came to one once...

J: I don’t know – Ryan Giggs?

Really? That could happen.

The Hundred in the Hands support Dum Dum Girls at Cargo on the 30th of July

Domzig