REVIEW: Hanry - Disruption

Debuting with their EP ‘Panorama’, the French six-piece Hanry return with an incredible glimpse into their future on ‘Disruption’. With their last EP being recorded and released by themselves, this EP marks the first time they have collaborated; working with Pelagic Record in Berlin to deliver an EP that sets the gold standard for ambient electronic rock.

This EP feels like a train journey from a dark, dank cyberpunk city to vast fields covered in snow; it's an album that would go hand in hand with any time you’ve felt like staring out the window lost in thought, contemplating, looking back on memories and life. 

The structure of this release is definitely short but sweet, with a four track run that only totals to about 20 minutes worth of time, but the blending of each track, and their complimentary nature, make for quite the journey in the bands sound. Not only that, but it also shows a wondrous mastery of the sort of ambient rock they’ve displayed on this record, which is incredibly impressive for such a compact listen.

The synths on the EP are perfectly balanced in the mix, whilst the subtle guitar and soft drums only pick up for beautiful crescendos of electronica that sound both familiar yet still so fresh. Looking back on ‘Panorama’, this EP seems to show a very promising next release for this band, with this one feeling like a new beginning and acting as a beautiful transition into something new. This notion is also reflected sonically with the darker, more sombre notes towards the beginning that progress into a much higher pitched and hopeful sound at the end that will captivate the listener, leaving them wanting more. 

Each of the four tracks on the EP compliments the next, and makes for a glorious listen. The real centre of the aforementioned hopeful feel is the final song ‘Intermission’ which takes the notes higher in a way that will make you feel like floating - it is simply beautiful.

With 'Disruption', the members of Hanry have come together to create something transcendental and ethereal in its essence - this is the kind of EP that can be left on with eyes closed, ears open, and thoughts left to drift. In only twenty minutes they have proven themselves more than worthy of our attention and yours, and will be kept firmly on our radar for their next release. If you like getting lost in music and thought, this EP is absolutely perfect.

'Disruption' will be released on January 10th via Pelagic Records.

Words: Ben Blissett

Photo: Mathis Le Mounier