The Blue Moods of Spain

Josh Haden's deeply melancholic ensemble debuted with a remarkably quiet, intensely slow-moving fusion of minimalist slowcore and traditional soul-blues. Driven almost entirely by Haden's prominent upright bass and whispered, sorrowful vocals, the record's profound spaciousness demands absolute listener attention. The incredibly soothing, regret-filled atmosphere established a completely unique, jazz-inflected corner of the 1990s slowcore movement.