The evolution from the Dark Water Hymnal's eponymous 2007 EP to first LP As Above, So Below is one of maturity and restraint, comfort woven through the smooth harmonies of Jeremy Ballard and Emily Hurt. As soon as Ballard's deep, opiatic vox meets the plucked sigh of Andrea Couch's violin on opener "Furrows," spark becomes candlelight. Despite the darkness, As Above is far from depressive (save for the minor chords of "Blood Sun"). "Wake Today" begins slow and easy only to break out in a joyous revival, and "Sophia" visits Django Reinhardt at a Dust Bowl carnival. Ballard's a storyteller, each song having a through line of emotional range. Simplicity can breed ennui, but with little more than acoustic guitar, snare drum, and Couch's strings, As Above exudes a refreshing purity. When voices rejoice on "Unending Through the Dark" and closer "White Clouds Moving Over," the healing begins.

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By Darcie Stevens
The Austin Chronicle
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid%3A754194

Hello again!

We are excited to tell you that our new CD "As Above, So Below" is ready to go! And our new website is up! Check it out here:www.thedarkwaterhymnal.com

To celebrate, we'll be playing at End of an Ear here in Austin on Saturday, February 28th at 6 p.m. We're also planning a CD Release Party for later on in the spring, so we will keep you posted...

bring your ears, bring your hearts!

Love,
The Dark Water Hymnal

So, we played The Secret Show last night, along with The Lovely Sparrows, Lane & Paul and Precious Blood. It was at a place called "The Bone House" -- a little clearing in a south Austin nature preserve. What a great experience. If you haven't been to one of these shows yet, you need to.

We have a new track called "Wake Today" available for free download as part of Austin Sound’s 2008 SXSW compilation, Sound Advice 2.

Take a look/listen HERE

This version of the song was recorded at KVRX’s Local Live in early February and is one of a handful of new songs and arrangements we’ve been working on. We’re recording a new record in May that should be out in early fall.

in the meantime...

The Austin Chronicle highlights some of Austin's up-and-coming bands and songwriters, and were kind enough to include us...

READ IT HERE

Thanks Doug!

END OF AN EAR TOP SELLERS

September 2007

1. Animal Collective "Strawberry Jam" (Domino)
2. Iron & Wine "The Shepherd's Dog" (Sub Pop)
3. DARK WATER HYMNAL "s/t" CD (local)
4. New Pornographers "Challengers" (Matador)
5. Okkervil River "The Stage Names" (Jagjaguwar)
6. Moore, Thurston "Trees Outside the Academy" (Ecstatic Peace)
7. Dirty Projectors "Rise Above" (Dead Oceans)
8. Liars "s/t" (Mute)
9. Pinback "Autumn of the Seraphs" (Touch & Go)
10. Banhart, Devendra "Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon" (XL)