Hoxsey – “Harvest Moon Sessions”: A Dark Folk Album for Autumn
When seasons are changing or about to change or changes, I wonder why people sometimes pretend it’s ain’t happening or maybe they just wants to know if another season has actually started. Like how people pull out their light jackets while pretending they ain’t freezing on an early October evening is a classic sign that autumn is officially here. Well artist Hoxsey captures that crisp, shifting season with his 13-track album, “Harvest Moon Sessions”.
The album which was recorded directly onto a vintage Tascam 4-track tape machine, was crafted to create an intimate, handmade soundtrack for the transition into fall. Usually many would of opted for typical Halloween tropes, but I love the path this record took, by blending dark Gothic folk, alternative rock, and raw acoustic songwriting to explore themes of change, mortality, local folklore, and strange late-night characters, making it an album that many can relate to! And the tape limitations give the entire release an authentic, unfiltered warmth.
“The Rise” lays a beautiful brooding dark foundation for the rest of the album to follow. Welcoming listeners with a haunting, moody, atmosphere with warm tape hiss and steady heavy drum kicks, whilst electric guitar touches drift quietly in the background. The track embodies this attitude where you wake up to a new season and step into the unknown. It’s a great track that sets the record straight for the rest of the album to follow, creating an atmosphere where you don’t know your next move, or where you headed to, but you gonna go anyway, and more like saying welcome to Halloween.
On “Humans – Acoustic“, Hoxsey stripped back to pure basics, and created an environment or track that relies on delicate acoustic guitar picking and honest lead vocals. One thing that’s evident here is those synths sweeping in behind the simple, unpolished production, giving the lyrics room to breathe. As humans, we can’t be perfect no matter how hard we try and this is what the track lay emphasis on. We are always gonna be vulnerable and probably that’s what makes us human, if we don’t have flaws then what would make us different from the other? It’s a reflective track that sits you down and talks to you!
“Crucifix of Stone – Acoustic” comes in with a darker, Gothic folk tone, that combines haunting guitar chords with deep vocal delivery. The subtle tape saturation gives the instrumentation a dusty, vintage feel, and it feels quite amazing. I love the themes the track explores, it speaks to heavy traditions, ancient memory, and carrying emotional weight over time. It’s something that’s gradually fading in our modern world, our traditions, they just diminishing everyday. The track is very emotional, especially when you’ve had someone that has passed on who held traditions and ancient ways in high esteem.
This track “Sunday” is just like Sunday, it picks up the pace with driving rhythm guitars and punchy basslines. The alternative rock influence shines through here, giving the arrangement a grounded, kinetic feel. It feels a bit bright with those acoustic strings, but has a very atmospheric vocal delivery, it’s a short and punchy track, that focus on taking a breath during quiet weekend moments while feeling the pressure of time passing.
With “Bath Salts – Acoustic” injecting a bit of quirky, unpredictable energy into the record by pairing sharp acoustic strumming with expressive storytelling. The unvarnished recording style keeps the focus squarely on the narrative, offering a strange yet playful look at human impulses. “Over the Mornings New Moon – Acoustic” takes things slow, and reverses back into into a peaceful space. It’s a track that features glowing acoustic melodies and subtle string textures. This one feels more light and airy. It a song that’s reassuring, and asks you to have fresh starts and find quiet comfort in early morning stillness, it’s not a long track, at just 1:59 it passes it message out without being dramatic.
“Sacrifice Table” takes us back into heavier territory, with crunchy electric guitars and steady, deliberate drum beats. The instrumentation feels moody, atmospheric and creates a tense, dramatic backdrop. The song speaks about the tough choices and personal compromises we make along the way. Take relationships for example, sometimes you meet someone they are good, ticks a lot of boxes for you, but comes with you having to make a lot of compromises just to be with them, and these are the sacrifices we make everyday. Putting people ahead of your own feelings and making sure it’s all well with them before even us.
“Moving On” brings mid-tempo acoustic chords and alternative rock rhythms to the table. That balanced arrangement gives the song a steady, forward-moving stride that I love Soo much. It’s a track that focuses on resilience, encouraging listeners to leave old burdens behind and keep walking forward. New season is here, so why carry old burdens with you? Why walk around worried from past mistakes? Move on, believe and keep pushing, maybe those mistakes will turn out to be good mistakes who knows!
“Miss You” becomes deeply personal, relying on soft picking and gentle vocal tones. The production stays raw and immediate, capturing every slide of the fingers on the guitar strings. It’s a song that’s very honest, songs about quiet longings and missing old friends whilst maintaining that enjoyable emotional edge to it. I mean what’s life without those friends? What’s life without people do it with? What’s life if we can’t appreciate those people that make it more enjoyable for us, if we can’t appreciate them, if we can’t let them know we are glad we met them and all the things they do for us. Tell them you miss them when they move away, and do visit them, don’t sit on your screens all the time, spend time with people and have a wonderful feel of life.
“Drawing my Hangman” brings an eerie, folklore-driven edge, where it uses dark acoustic riffs and tense vocal delivery. One thing about this track is, it’s very piercing, like it touches your soul. The analog tape grit adds a spooky layer to the instrumentation, creating an atmosphere that feels confrontational where you question fate, consequences, and asks the shadows of past decisions. We all at a point in life takes their route, reflect our some decisions we made some time ago, and ask if we would be where we are if we had made a different decision, but in all keep going and keep pushing.
At a point in time, we all have to give in and this track “I Yield” offers that quiet moment of surrender. With gentle guitar picking and spacious pauses, this simple arrangement feels calm and unhurried. It’s a track that asks one simple question, why do you keep fighting and unnecessary fight? It’s like trying to keep something or someone that doesn’t wants to be kept, let them go, let go off grudges, accept the outcomes of events, and find peace at the end. After accepting the outcome of events, definitely we will have to say our “Silent Goodbyes”. I love how this track layers delicate acoustic picking beneath soft, atmospheric background textures. The production builds a quiet, reflective space that lets the song linger. It focuses on unsaid words and honoring memories as chapters naturally close.
We kiss goodbye to the album with the track “Rowboat Purgatory”. Now this standout track brings a dark, brooding mood with heavy acoustic strums and deep, echoing vocals. The rhythm sways like water against a boat, giving the piece a hypnotic finish. It carries a final message about navigating uncertain transitions before reaching solid shore.
Well what a journey it’s been with “Harvest Moon Sessions“. Hoxsey has indeed given us an album that brings a refreshing, unfiltered approach to autumn music. It offers a cozy, genuine listening experience for dark nights, quiet drives, or relaxing with a warm drink while the leaves fall. Go stream “Harvest Moon Sessions” and step into the changing season!
Wants more from Hoxsey? Check the links below;
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