As an album inspired by the soulful vocals of Lovetta Pippin, this was always going to be a departure for HNIA. Although it delves deep into modern R&B, the spare, elegaic melancholy of the record manages to maintain a link to the moods of earlier, ethereal albums.
A 21-song compilation spanning the group's first five albums that emphasizes the darker undercurrents of the band's sound.
HNIA's fifth 4AD release is their most complex and accomplished so far, pulling together the dreamy experimentalism of their early work with the poppy, soulful tendencies of recent releases and adding a few new twists.
An eclectic, unique album from an eclectic, unique band, it mixes dub, dream pop, surf, country, and Pet Sounds era Beach Boys into something altogether inimitable and features His Name Is Alive at their most accessible and exciting
The debut album is also the group's artiest, most explicitly experimental release. At its best, Livonia explores death, dreams, and spirituality with transcendent music and lyrics. At its worst, it's an ambitious debut, introducing a creative, aspiring band.
