Hemlock & Bergamot 12” LP – Now Available on Vinyl!
Limited edition, traditional Black vinyl in full-color pocket sleeve, w/ lyric insert. (Ramble Records, 2023)
I’m thrilled to announce that my 2021 solo album, Hemlock & Bergamot, is now available in a limited edition vinyl release! This marks a special milestone in my musical journey, and I'm excited to share it with you all in a new format that beautifully complements the intimate, experimental folk and psychedelic soundscapes of the album.
Originally released by Home & Garden Music on cassette, Hemlock & Bergamot is now available through Ramble Records. The album is distributed in the EU through Clear Spot and in North America via Lighten Up Sounds. You can also get personal copies directly through me, just reach out!.
This release holds significant meaning for me, as it represents my return to songwriting after a period focused on other musical forms. The album’s mix of psych folk and experimental folk explores the nuances of dreams, reality, trauma, recovery, and love. As a whole, it’s a deeply personal project that blends the luminosity of pastoral psychedelia with moments of somber reflection and hope.
Hemlock & Bergamot captures a distinct moment in time – it’s filled with delicate melodies that evoke a timeless, almost spectral quality, recalling both backwoods psychedelia and loner folk traditions. The seven tracks paint a portrait of emotional and spiritual transformation, offering a blend of lullabies and laments. Each song reflects the spaces between dreams and reality, past and future, in a haunting and profound way.
Here’s what critics are saying about the album:
“At once both lonesome and intimate... filled with the hope and light of a bright new dawn.” – Record Crates United
“ evokes eerie landscapes of the inner mind as much as the external world… If David Lynch is looking for someone to score one of his films… he could start his search here. — Shindig Magazine
“Further north here in Minnesota, Matthew Himes is creating his own brand of backwoods psychedelia... a really strong return to songwriting that sounds like a fresh new chapter...” – Free Form Freakout
“Really sublime experimental loner folk from this mysterious Minnesotan, who writes intimate and melancholic tunes, that are nearly tone poems... a cohesive spareness and phantasmagoric vibe.” – Steven Krakow
This album is a labor of love, and I’m so proud of how it’s turned out. The vinyl edition features new design and layout by Cam Lofstrand, and was mastered by Caleb Mulkerin, bringing an extra depth and warmth to the already atmospheric sound. I’m grateful to Michael at Ramble Records for believing in this project and helping bring it to vinyl.
To celebrate, Hemlock & Bergamot is now also available on all major streaming platforms. Whether you prefer vinyl or streaming, I hope you enjoy this collection of songs that are as much about introspection as they are about healing.
Listen Everywhere:
About Hemlock & Bergamot
Release Year: 2021
Artist: Matthew Himes
Genre: Psych Folk, Experimental Folk, Loner Folk, Pastoral Psychedelia
Recorded: South Minneapolis, MN, 2019-2020
Mastered: Caleb Mulkerin
Label: Ramble Records
This 12” LP edition is a limited run, and I'm excited to offer it to you directly. Whether you're an avid collector or someone new to my music, I hope you find something personal and transformative in the sounds of Hemlock & Bergamot.
Available Now:
EU: Distributed by Clear Spot
North America: Available through Lighten Up Sounds
Ramble Records (Australia)
Thank you all for your support, and I can’t wait for you to experience this album in its new vinyl form.
