Karl Ikola of Anopheles Records obtained these responses immediately after he released the CD in 2004
San Diego Voice
Homestead & Wolfe makes the year list – Music article in Village Voice on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 at 4 a.m.
– https://www.villagevoice.com/2004/12/14/music-303/
KFJC.org 89.7 FM
Hi Karl – a huge thanks for releasing this masterpiece… I love this so much, and am still just amazed at what these kids did – wow. Favorites = 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13. These tracks originally saw only a private release – until now. Surpassing and revelatory genius.
– Mitch at KFJC radio at Foothill College in Los Altos
Psycedelica
Karl !!! & !! Ooops, but the psych mafia should be praising him heavily for H&W ! My favorite discovery of the year! A little background on my listening habits: The influx here is absolutely ridiculous, dozens of new things a week! I listen liberally to different albums ad infinitum. Very rarely doth something get sticky in the player. When it does, watch out, swingle-sister – I tend to want to sing its praises. Being a member of the Gnosis Project, I am always ranking music. This BADMOFO (H&W) has charmed me to my bones.I am going into the database and giving it the highest honors: 15 out of 15 = Perfect. Truly blessed now, Cesar
– Cesar Montesano, on May 27, 2005
NewBrutonTown
I’m really knocked out by this CD, this, for the most part, is brilliant 70s Folk/FolkRock that I would expect would appeal to almost everybody here. Who to compare it to? Well, I vastly favor the UK scene, and am less enamored of the Dylan/Guthrie US wing of American Folk, and the tendency to interject country elements by many US artists. Having said that, there are a couple songs that do tend to the countryish side, and one rock track, (which is good, btw.)
– “moecurlythanu” on May 9, 2005
Mark’s Response
Again, a first listen, but it’s among my favorite American Folk/FolkRock/FolkPsych albums. Like it better than These Trails at first listen (not that that’s my fave American Folk album.) My favorite tracks at first listen are “Mary Jane” & “See The Children Die.” They are not part of the Dylan/Guthrie wing, however. Other than those 3 tracks it’s a mix of dreamy Folk and outstanding FolkRock, drawing comparisons at times with Tudor Lodge, the 1st Bread, Love & Dreams, and faint hints at some of what Spriguns did later on (think “Time Will Pass.”)
Also, much of the female vocals bear some resemblance to Sandy Denny, in the phrasing, and especially when notes are sustained. I also hear a bit of what the Byrds might have sounded like if they hadn’t relied on 12 string, in some of the uptempo numbers.
I would think this CD would be of interest to most folks here. If it wasn’t for the country-ish tracks (2 out of 13 on the original album,) I would call this an unqualified masterpiece. Very much recommended.
– Mark
AcidSanctuary
Yeah, there is a certain similarity with all those items, but H & W has a strong urban westcoast finish to it IMO, not rooted in rural soil like most Brit-folkers tend to be… Mellow Candle is perhaps the closest of those, but I would really be inclined to compare it to California-style bands from a slightly earlier era… they did have trad folk moves too, often. The most rocking tracks on H & W remind me of Ill Wind, both in terms of the powerful female vocals and the flowing band. Also Yankee Dollar, Carolyn Hester Coalition, even Neighbrhood Childrn. 8.5 / 10 at this point, really hard to find any weaknesses in it. Great stories in the liner notes about the talented young lady handing out sheet notes to Hal Blaine & Al Casey on how the music should be played 🙂
– Patrick “LamaSivartDoz” on Oct 18, 2004
Songs & Videos – Critics Rave About The CD – More of the Story – Pictures