Lande Hekt - Going To Hell (January 22, 2021)

ItsAndrew · Jan 21, 2021

1. Whiskey
2. 80 Days of Rain
3. Hannover
4. Winter Coat
5. Undone
6. December
7. Stranded in Berlin
8. Impending Dooming
9. Candle
10. Going to Hell
11. In The Darkness

Lande Hekt’s voice in music is one that’s socially aware yet often introspective, drawing awareness to serious issues but at the same time baring her soul. Much of Hekt’s compositions act as a personal diary of what’s going on in her life at any given time. This is evident in her discography with Muncie Girls, the band which she formed in her hometown of Exeter as a teenager and have released two critically acclaimed albums to date. This knack of combining her own experiences and feelings whilst highlighting larger socio-economic issues has carried through to her more contemplative solo material, which began life in an EP ‘Gigantic Disappointment’, self-released in 2019.

2021 sees Hekt armed with a debut album ‘Going to Hell’, on which she played all the instruments with the exception of percussion. “Some of these songs have taken me a long time to write,” Hekt says. “As a whole, this album represents a time when I was coming out as gay. I’m no stranger to queer punk and queer politics. I’ve always taken a special interest for obvious reasons, but this record is important to me because it’s the first time I’m releasing anything as an outwardly gay person.” ‘Going to Hell’ was recorded by Hekt’s friend Ben David (from the band The Hard Aches) in the Adelaide Hills in Australia, whilst she was over there for a solo tour with him in February, luckily fitting in the recording and flying home before lockdown kicked in.

The album’s title track is also about Hekt’s experiences and feelings coming out as gay. “It’s about how homophobia and heteronormative culture can make you feel isolated and scared of being yourself,” she says. “I internalised a lot of that culture for a long time and it wasn’t until I found myself surrounded by queer and trans people and friends, that I realised I could live happily in a way that felt right. I know I’m not alone in feeling like this and it was other people sharing their experiences with me that helped me out, so I named the album after this song to try and reach people who might want to be reached. It’s also not a dig on all Catholics; it’s just an expression of skepticism from a gay person regarding conservatism.”

The song ‘Hannover’ has chorus lyrics lifted directly from Hekt’s diary whilst she was touring Europe totally alone for the very first time. Much of the record was written in the midst of a state of displacement in Hekt’s life, whilst touring, being stuck in Berlin due to visa issues and not really quite knowing where her home was over the past couple of years, being somewhat transient between tours. ‘Going to Hell’ sounds like the sum of Hekt’s wide-ranging influences - The Replacements, The Raincoats, Sharon Van Etten, The Slits, Patti Smith, Sacred Paws, Le Tigre, Against Me! - multiplied by her own distinct voice.

Hekt has played events for The Big Issue and the Labour Party amongst numerous solo gigs, touring the globe with artists like Kevin Devine and Ben David, as well as performing with Muncie Girls at the likes of Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds Festivals, Download and SXSW in Austin.

So this record is getting a lot of (well deserved) hype. Debut record from Muncie Girls lead singer. Stereogum named it their Album of the Week, Bandcamp named it their "Album of the Day", DIY Magazine gave it 4 stars, and I'm sure Pitchfork will give it a positive review as well. Join the hype train!

ItsAndrew · Jan 22, 2021

Okay this is the best record I have heard so far this year, very good!

Fronnyfron · Jan 23, 2021

Very nice album, loving the guitar tones

username · Jan 24, 2021

Wish I liked this a bit more. Was very excited after “Whiskey” but mostly hits the same note the whole way through. Not bad but don’t see it sticking much.

ItsAndrew · Jan 25, 2021

ItsAndrew · Mar 23, 2021

Second press up for pre-order now

ItsAndrew · May 10, 2022

Listen to Lande Hekt's new single & cover of The Wedding Present's "Octopussy"

ItsAndrew · Jul 6, 2022

Lande Hekt - House Without a View (September 23, 2022) • forum.chorus.fm

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Lande Hekt - Going To Hell (January 22, 2021)

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Lande Hekt - Going To Hell (January 22, 2021)

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