Microshift is the third studio album, fourth long play record and final album by British rock band Hookworms. It was released on 2 February 2018 by Domino Recording Company. The album's namesake is an audio plug-in.[1] The record is dedicated to "Archie", the band's former live sound engineer.

Microshift
Studio album by
Released2 February 2018 (2018-02-02)
RecordedSuburban Home Studios (Leeds)
Length46:39
LabelDomino
ProducerMJ (Hookworms)
Hookworms chronology
The Hum
(2014)
Microshift
(2018)

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[2]

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic87/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
The A.V. ClubB[5]
The Guardian     [6]
Mojo     [7]
NME     [8]
Pitchfork7.9/10[9]
Q     [10]
Record Collector     [11]
The Times     [12]
Uncut8/10[13]

Microshift received positive reviews upon its release,[3] with an average score of 87 out of 100 based on 18 reviews from mainstream critics on Metacritic, indicating universal acclaim.[3]

Track listing edit

Tracks 1–5 and 7–9 were written by Hookworms with lyrics by MJ. Track 6 was written by Alice Mérida Richards and Hookworms.

No.TitleLength
1."Negative Space"6:57
2."Static Resistance"3:49
3."Ullswater"7:08
4."The Soft Season"4:01
5."Opener"8:37
6."Each Time We Pass"5:16
7."Boxing Day"2:19
8."Reunion"2:51
9."Shortcomings"5:41
Total length:46:39

Personnel edit

Hookworms

  • EO – guitars, backing vocals, additional percussion
  • JN – drums, percussion
  • JW – guitars
  • MB – bass, modular synthesizer, synthesizers
  • MJ – lyrics, vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, producing, recording, mixing

Additional personnel

  • Alice Mérida Richards – additional vocals and lyrics (track 6); backing vocals – (tracks 1, 2, 4 and 9)
  • Christopher Duffin – tenor and soprano saxophone on (tracks 4, 7 and 8)
  • Richard Formby – additional Modular Synthesizer (track 5)
  • Published by Domino Publishing Co. Ltd
  • Recorded by MJ at Suburban Home Studio, Leeds
  • Mixed by MJ at Suburban Home Studio, Leeds
  • Mastered by Tom Woodhead at Hippocratic Mastering
  • Artwork by Louis Byrne

Charts edit

Chart (2018) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[14] 18

References edit

  1. ^ "Hookworms talk synths in the studio, crowdfunding and how to avoid sounding like Muse". www.getintothis.co.uk/. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  2. ^ "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Microshift by Hookworms". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  4. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Microshift – Hookworms". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  5. ^ O'Neal, Sean (2 February 2018). "Hookworms, Microshift". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  6. ^ Petridis, Alexis (1 February 2018). "Hookworms: Microshift review – vast leap forward into a psychedelic future". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  7. ^ Snapes, Laura (March 2018). "Small wonder". Mojo (292): 96.
  8. ^ Cochrane, Greg (1 February 2018). "Hookworms – 'Microshift' Album Review". NME. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  9. ^ Berman, Stuart (5 February 2018). "Hookworms: Microshift". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  10. ^ Segal, Victoria (March 2018). "Hookworms: Microshift". Q (382): 111.
  11. ^ Harley, Kevin (January 2018). "Hookworms – Microshift". Record Collector (475). Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  12. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (2 February 2018). "Pop review: Hookworms: Microshift". The Times. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  13. ^ Hughes, Rob (March 2018). "Hookworms: Microshift". Uncut (250): 30.
  14. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 February 2018.