H.Pe - Interfaction

H.Pe

Interfaction
​self-released; 2020

4.0 out of 5

By My Nguyen

H.Pe is a musical project from Irish Canadian artist Ben Hope. Interfaction is his debut album. 

To Hope, music is all about the journey. Certain melodies and harmonies would act as anchors for him, pinpointing specific moments within his life, like when he first heard The White Album. Each listen would take him back to that place of discovery, love and sadness and himself. Interfaction will bring listeners that much closer to the realm of discovery as there is a whole lot of sounds and textures to explore on this album.

Hope makes music poignant with discovery. His latest offering gives off fresh melodies both new and unexpected. With a sound taken from the glam, post punk, new wave, alternative and synth pop genres, he melds in his music a vibe that will only draw audiences closer to the flame that is his music. 

Interfaction jumps right into the groove with the title-track, where glitch-y electro-pop beats make the forefront of this track as Hope’s vocals come accompanied by dynamic background vocals. The music felt very driven. The notes and tone, catchy and upbeat. A bit of dissonance gave the song a unique vibe. Hope’s vocals were reminiscent of an ‘80s sound, filled with a happening new wave feel. He pays ode to the cult classic director Tarantino on “Quarantino” that contains a revving spaghetti western vibe. The feeling felt very propelling with spangly guitars and shimmering electro nodes that were appealing as well. On “Michael on TV,” stripped down guitar riffs gradually grows in momentum as the bass comes in with a wild and funky vibe. Hope’s vocals sound airy with a dash of ‘80s inspiration. This song really brought me back to that era as it embraces sounds and styles from that decade. 

A warm vibe comes from the acoustic guitar on “Mayo Mandalin.” Once Hope’s vocals enter, the atmosphere feels very intimate and up-close-and-personal as Hope changes things up with this introspective track. On “And Where Were The Chosen Ones,” moving drums and percussions underline this driven track. Hope’s vocals come in full of flavor and zest. The chorus contains an upbeat and catchy melody. The contagious vibes have a very dance-worthy appeal that really got me moving. 

“Hobby Of The Hawks” is a definite highlight. The infectious chiptune vibes and emotional vocal delivery really vied for my attention. The gigantic guitar riffs add to the sound. On “Lay Awake At Night And Call It Dancing,” the instrumentals layers really gave off a polished sound to the production. Hope’s vocals come edged in reverb. The sounds of chimes trickle in. Hope sings with feeling and flair and I felt really moved by the music on this closer. 

​The artist hopes to make music filled with the sounds of his influences. But Hope has gone one step further. He takes his influences and melds the sounds of his predecessors with a cadence that is a balance of his inspirations and a sole sound that could only be his own. Mixing styles from the ‘80s and ‘90s and so on, Hope bends the rules to create a track list as innovative as it is meaningful. This is a solid first effort from the artist and I am excited to see how he moves forward from here. Be sure you have a listen today!

Become A Fan

official website

Tweet