Here, Hear. II

Released in November 2008, 'Here, Hear. II' is the second installment in La Dispute's experimental 'Here, Hear' series. This series serves as a creative outlet for the band to explore spoken word and minimalist instrumentation outside the confines of their post-hardcore identity. Recorded during the same era as their debut full-length, 'Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair', this EP represents a total deconstruction of their sound. The tracks are titled numerically, continuing the sequence from the first EP. Sonically, it is characterized by Jordan Dreyer's dry, close-mic delivery of poetic narratives over sparse, often repetitive guitar motifs. The production is intentionally raw and intimate, lacking the polished sheen of their later work. Critically, it is viewed as an essential piece of the band's lore, showcasing the literary ambitions that would eventually define their masterpiece 'Wildlife'. It is a transitional, avant-garde work that prioritizes atmosphere and prose over traditional song structure.