Hang

by Foxygen

Overview

Sharing a title with the final track of their prior release, â?¦And Star Power, Hang is the fourth LP from classic rock cognoscenti Foxygen. The duo of singer Sam France and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Rado present a dazzling confection here that's in stark contrast to its erratic 24-track predecessor. Hang's rather meticulous eight entries find France and Rado accompanied by a 40-plus-piece orchestra for the entire set, which also features appearances from the Lemon Twigs and the Flaming Lips' Steven Drozd. Drozd, who's credited not only with drums but tympani, electric guitar, and harpsichord, was not to be outdone by the Lemon Twigs' Michael D'Addario, whose work here includes drums and tap dancing. Also Foxygen's first professional-studio album, Hang was recorded at Vox Studios in Los Angeles with help from, among others, Trey Pollard (Natalie Prass, Matthew E. White), who arranged and conducted the orchestra. The band not only justifies but seems to maximize use of all of the above on an exuberant 32-minute LP that keeps upping the ante. Turn the dial to early-'70s AM gold for "Follow the Leader," with its funky groove, big brass, (surely choreographed) female backing vocalists, and France's sassy snarl. Changing gears, "Avalon" touches on Dixieland and ABBA, while "On Lankershim" takes on a sort of countrified Elton John. The album's centerpiece, however, is the anthemic "America," a tightly packed five-minute epic musical jambalaya that spans decades of jazz, rock, and show tunes as lyrics admonish: "If you're already there, then you're already dead/If you're living in America." A self-produced album that's more musically ambitious and larger in scope than many a Broadway musical, it still has the frenzied wackiness of Foxygen that's sure to continue to divide listeners. They go all in on Hang, so while it may draw its share of eye rolls, for those who play along, it's a triumph of extravagance and theatricality served with a wink and a chorus line. ~ Marcy Donelson

Product Details

Release Date:	01/20/2017
Label:	Jagjaguwar
UPC:	0656605230184

Tracks

1. Follow the Leader
2. Avalon
3. Mrs. Adams
4. America
5. On Lankershim
6. Upon a Hill
7. Trauma
8. Rise Up

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Foxygen   Primary Artist
Reginald Chapman   Trombone (Bass)
Treesa Gold   Violin
Anna Bishop   Violin
Johanna Beaver   Viola
Rachel Velvikis   French Horn
Victoria Hamrick   Oboe,Horn (English)
Adrian Pintea   Violin
Amanda Winger   French Horn
Anthony Smith   Flute,Piccolo Flute
Elise Blake   Violin
Erin Lano   French Horn
Grace Bauson   Harp
Jason McComb   Cello
Laura Smith   Oboe
Rick Reiger   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Rob Quallich   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Shara Stamps   Cello
Stacy Matthews   Violin
Stephaine Barrett   Cello
Stephanie Ycaza   Tuba
Suzi Fischer   Sax (Baritone)
John Winn   Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Clarinet (Bass)
Taylor Barnett   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Pinson Chanselle   Chimes,Timpani
Tom Stevens   Viola
Kimberly Ryan   Viola
Kevin Simpson   Sax (Tenor)
Bob Miller   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Melissa Sunderland   Violin
Jason Scott   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
Toby Whitaker   Trombone
Marcus Tenney   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Scott Flynn   Trombone
JC Kuhl   Sax (Tenor)
Lauren Serpa   Flute,Flute (Alto)
Bryan Hooten   Trombone
Faith Hofma   Violin
Trey Pollard   Conductor

Technical Credits

Jeff France   Logo
Michael Harris   Engineer
Cara Robbins   Photography
Treesa Gold   String Contractor
Michael Hegner   Tape Operator
Christopher Cerullo   Assistant Engineer
Bryce McCormick   Score Preparation
Michael Taliaferro   Photography
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Adrian Olsen   Engineer
Cian Riordan   Mixing
Foxygen   Composer,Producer
Matthew E. White   Arranger
Sam France   Cover Art,Group Member
Jonathan Rado   Group Member
Trey Pollard   Orchestral Arrangements