“Hopes” by the Dutch alt-folk/americana collective Classic Water – yes, named after the infamous David Berman poem – is what you call a deceptive song. At first it seems like soothing piece of music, with its mellow guitar strumming and T.J. Gerritsen’s honeyed, agreeable coo. But there’s something really devastating about the song, punctuated further by the opening line: “What were the real hopes we had / with days we played in the grass?”
The notion of something undeniably sad and ominous simmering beneath the music’s warm cosy surface is confirmed more or less by the band themselves.
‘”Hopes’ is about the strange dual sensation of fear and fascination that I have often felt simultaneously in recent years,” says Gerritsen. “It’s about how, in our era of climate change, you can become obsessed with the most terrifying visions of the future, how you almost compulsively consume new apocalyptic scenarios every day. In the song, I wonder what has changed since the time when I, as a child, spent endless days playing in the grass and gazing into the distance. The song suddenly came into existence and started as an almost entirely electronic demo. For this album version, our goal was to make it sound as if you’re inside a Spanish guitar, comfortably enveloped by warm wood.“
With “Hopes”, Classic Water have announced their new album Matter of Time, which is released on February 16 2024. The record is a subtle departure from the Magnolia Electric Company-leanings of predecessor Concrete Pleasures. A collection of songs that feels tender and measured in both sound and expression; yet their protective shell eroded by universal troubles and concerns.
Listen to “Hopes” below, and find the song on streaming outlets.
Follow Classic Water on Instagram, Facebook and their official website.
