Many in High Places Are Not Well

• Artist: HiM
• Rating:
• Release Date: June 24, 2003
• Genre: Rock

Review

H.I.M.'s Douglas Scharin took a brief break after 2001's New Features, then regrouped H.I.M. with some familiar faces as well as a few new ones for the group's second record for Bubble Core, 2003's Many in High Places Are Not Well. Collaborators include Joshua LaRue, Fred Erskine, and Rob Mazurek, and vocalist Christian Dautresme (from the Letter E). The band is workmanlike and innovative; proving themselves capable of highly percussive jams with the motorische qualities of Can and offer many glimpses of polyrhythms (a two-drummer attack helps here). For the opener, "Elementals," H.I.M.. sounds like an Afro-beat group playing against each other, with a horn section following not Fela Kuti's lead, but Stereolab's. Dautresme's performance on "Slow Slow Slow," along with "The Way Trees Are" are the highlights of the album; with warmth coming from the slinky basslines and nearly wordless vocalizing; while at the same time, a coolness comes into the mix from the horn section, a shimmering guitar, and a two-man drum kit. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Elementals	Christian Dautresme	HiM	(9:21)
Many in High Places Are Not Well	Christian Dautresme	HiM	(5:48)
Slow Slow Slow	Christian Dautresme	HiM	(6:04)
The Way the Trees Are		HiM	(8:16)
Perspective from a Slow Spin		HiM	(4:53)
Elope and Secede	Christian Dautresme	HiM	(5:13)
Coming of Age		HiM	(8:27)

Credits

Doug Scharin (Vibraphone), Carlo Cennamo (Sax (Alto)), Rob Mazurek (Cornet), Griffin Rodriguez (Bass (Electric)), David Pavkovic (Programming), Joshua LaRue (Clavinet), Doug Scharin (Clavinet), Joe Goldring (Organ (Pump)), Bundy K. Brown (Engineer), Dominic Johnson (Cello), Josh Berman (Cornet), Griffin Rodriguez (Wurlitzer), Joe Goldring (Guitar), Doug Scharin (Percussion), Griffin Rodriguez (Voices), Julie Liu (Violin), Kristin Voltysdottir (Voices), Dominic Johnson (Viola), Alan Douches (Mastering), Josh Barman (Cornet), Amelia Liu Sun Scharin (Voices), Doug Scharin (Fender Rhodes), Doug Scharin (Audio Production), Doug Scharin (Drums), Griffin Rodriguez (Clavinet), Griffin Rodriguez (Bass (Upright)), Doug Scharin (Electronics), Joe Goldring (Organ), Carlo Cennamo (Alto), Dominic Johnson (Cello), Joshua LaRue (Guitar), Christian Dautresme (Vocals), Fred Erskine (Bass (Electric)), Fred Erskine (Wurlitzer), David Pavkovic (Drums), Griffin Rodriguez (Organ (Hammond)), Matt Schneider (Guitar), Dominic Johnson (Viola), Adam Pierce (Voices), Abdou M'Boup (Kora), Adam Price (Engineer), Adam Pierce (Guitar (Acoustic)), Christian Dautresme (Voices)