Where Woolston, Texas shone light on the shadows, ‘Rooster’ invites them in to break bread.
As Adam Hattaway and the Haunters’ (A.H.) fourth studio release and first double album, it is laden with a certain humility that demonstrates Hattaway’s burgeoning maturity as a singer/songwriter. By following a more organic process to producing the album, A.H. has captured the enigmatic allure that defines their live shows.
The natural follow on from the nostalgia of ‘Woolston, Texas’ - ‘Rooster’ is a hopeful, sprawling ode to possibility.
And after the forced pauses through 2020, A.H. felt pressed to release a build-up of creative energy while embracing more of the fervor and improvisational elements of a live performance.
In February 2021, just out of Kurow, Sublime Studios became the inner sanctum where Hattaway and Jones led the charge through four intense days of writing, rewriting, and recording. Live, the band stretch out and improvise more, especially vocally as Adam hadn’t been able to bring that spontaneity to the recording studio before - until now.
In true 60s style, the album was recorded to 4 track tape and co-produced by Hattaway and Jones on the fly. The resulting ‘Rooster’ emerged as what Hattaway describes as
“a rough and rowdy double album”. There is an air of transience to the album. With many songs on the album being shown to Hattaway in dreams, it holds the feeling of getting moving again after a long time in one place.
The album cover features art drawn in the 1930s by Adam’s great, great uncle, Rolfe, who spent most of his adult life in psychiatric wards. Due to the stigma surrounding his condition, he was largely removed from family history until recent times. His work has been posthumously celebrated in New Zealand art galleries. Hattaway remarks -
“this drawing we thought really fit with the vibe of the record, and of course we were glad to be able to contribute in a small way to keep his memory alive.”
TRACKLIST
Back In Jail
Riding The River
Honor Lee
Waiting For The Chill
It's Hard
Atlanta
The Thing
Only Game In Town
Keep Walking
Cold Cold Wind
Honey Don't Lie
It's Too Late
I Hardly Exist
Blood Moon
Don't Touch That Dial
Crime Of The Century
Whatever This Is
Ain't It My Job
You Made A Drinking Man
Bring My Body Back Home
Rooster
Iv'ry Town
Release Date: 19 November, 2021
