Hildegard – Hildegard (Hildegard, 2015)
This superb self-titled album by a project called Hildegard came out in 2015. It was a collaboration between two ground-breaking and gifted musicians based in New Orleans: composer and guitarist Cliff Hines and jazz vocalist and composer Sasha Masakowski.
Hildegard is an exquisite progressive music undertaking. Even though the album begins with a pop-rock leaning song, it gets better and better right after that, intertwining progressive rock, contemporary jazz and dreamy art rock.
Sasha Masakowski’s vocal work is delightful, outstanding and masterful throughout the album. She delivers a wide range of vocal techniques, whether it is lead vocals, harmonies, processed vocals or overdubs. Using her jazz background she turns out to be a fantastic singer for a progressive rock project.
Cliff Hines utilizes a diverse set of guitar techniques and sounds, ranging from looped sounds to spectacular soloing, making the album fascinating and deeply satisfying. He seems to be inspired by the progressive rock sound of modern King Crimson.
Vocal pitch bending is not very common in progressive music projects, but Hildegard uses it on a track titled “Austria” with great results. It’s a sound that was used and popularized by Joe Walsh and Peter Frampton.
The album concludes with a brilliant song called “Vanishing Hue” that builds very nicely, transitioning from elegant jazz to epic progressive rock that hits the right spot.
The lineup includes Cliff Hines on guitars, Bass VI, vocals, synthesizer, string arrangements; Sasha Masakowski on vocals and synthesizer; Max Zemanovic on drums, percussion; John Maestas on guitar, synthesizer; Max Moran on bass; and Andrew McGowan on piano, Rhodes, and organ.
Get the album from www.cliffhines.com/merch