The Musical Odyssey of A Hawk and a Hacksaw

Music has a way of transporting us to different places and times. A Hawk and a Hacksaw, the brainchild of Jeremy Barnes and Heather Trost, is a band that perfectly encapsulates this feeling. With roots in folk music, the duo's unique blend of Balkan and Eastern European influences has earned them critical acclaim and a devoted fan base. In this blog post, we'll take a deeper look at the musical biography of A Hawk and a Hacksaw, from their beginnings to their most famous albums and songs.

Jeremy Barnes and Heather Trost first met in 2000 while touring with the popular indie-rock band Neutral Milk Hotel. Inspired by Barnes' travels in Eastern Europe, the two formed A Hawk and a Hacksaw with the goal of creating music that incorporated traditional Balkan and Eastern European instrumentation with contemporary sensibilities. Their first album, self-titled A Hawk and a Hacksaw, was released in 2002 and garnered critical acclaim for its unique fusion of styles.

Their most famous album, The Way The Wind Blows, was released in 2006 and is widely regarded as a masterpiece. The album features haunting melodies and intricate rhythms, anchored by Trost's violin and Barnes' accordion. From the opening track, In the River, which builds slowly to a climactic crescendo, to the driving beat of Fernando's Giampari, the album takes listeners on a journey through time and place.

One of the standout tracks on The Way The Wind Blows is God Bless the Ottoman Empire. The song features a hypnotic rhythm and dissonant harmonies that perfectly capture the spirit of the Balkan region. The use of traditional instruments such as the cimbalom and the darbuka create a sense of authenticity that sets the band apart from other folk-inspired acts.

A Hawk and a Hacksaw's 2008 album, Délivrance, marked a departure from their earlier work. The album was recorded in a church in Hungary and features a more stripped-down sound, with Barnes and Trost playing most of the instruments themselves. Standout tracks include Lajtha Lassú, a haunting, melancholic piece that showcases Trost's violin skills, and The Menace of Poultry, a playful and upbeat track that features Barnes on the marimba.

In 2018, A Hawk and a Hacksaw released their most recent album, Forest Bathing. The album sees the duo broadening their sound even further, incorporating elements of jazz, psychedelia, and world music into their already eclectic mix. Standout tracks include Alexandria, a dreamy, atmospheric piece with a beautiful flute melody, and Babayaga, a driving, pulsing track that is both hypnotic and exhilarating.

From their humble beginnings to their critically acclaimed albums, A Hawk and a Hacksaw has carved out a unique and fascinating musical niche for themselves. With their innovative use of traditional Balkan and Eastern European instrumentation, they have created a sound that is both timeless and modern. If you haven't already, be sure to give their albums a listen – you won't be disappointed.