Albany based jam band Hilltop recently released their brand new EP, Getting There Together on February 16. This follows the 2022 release of Live Rips, and is their latest studio output since “Prophecy” – a stand alone single from July of 2022.
The quartet is made up of brothers Reid and Stephen Perry on drums and percussion, along with Aris Nieuwkerk and David Klang on guitar and bass respectively.
Getting There Together is mixed bag of rock, funk, jam and country influences. The band defines Getting There Together as “a collection of 4 songs from our catalog that outline the importance of living in the moment and cooperating.”
The EP begins with “Beautiful”, a rock and jam inspired song introduced by its catchy unison guitar and bass riff. The song tackles lyrical themes of living in the present, stating “our future concerns and past regrets will all fade away.” It eventually transitions into spacey like ambience, which allows Aris the space to build a unique solo before returning back to the main unison riff to end the song. During their live performances, Hilltop is known for extending these sections, allowing the spontaneity of improvisation to lead the direction of the song.
“Sunshine” starts with an intro reminiscent of Pink Floyd, a quiet soundscape that slowly builds and crescendos into a funk-rock inspired groove. The bass and drums are locked in and really drive the feel of the song. The chemistry between the two are apparent on this recording. Hilltop’s use of vocal harmonies on the chorus add an additional layer of depth and power to their message. Sunshine contains a short, overdriven guitar solo that leads to a final chorus with the refrain “we’ll make our own sunshine today”, continuing with this trend of optimism and positivity in their lyrics.
The third song off the EP, “Something New,” contains beautiful guitar harmonies layered by Aris. These first three tracks are accredited to songwriting duo Aris and Reid.
“Moonshine”, the final song on the EP, is heavily inspired by traditional country and bluegrass. Walking bass, a chugging train beat, and country guitar picking all meld to create the only David Klang (bass) original released on Getting There Together. David is also Hilltop’s Mastering Engineer for the entirety of the EP.
Getting There Together by Hilltop is currently available on all streaming services here.
Hilltop 2024 Tour Dates:
03/29 – Electric Haze (Supporting Dead Man’s Waltz) – Worcester, MA
03/30 – The Hollow (w/ Leon Trout) – Albany, NY
04/18 – Nectars (Supporting Double You) – Burlington, VT
More information can be found at www.hilltoptheband.com
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