by Alex Whitelaw
Mike Hlady has been making music under the moniker Holiday Music for over eight years. In that time he has developed a knack for organizing sonic barrages into concise songs that effortlessly expand upon their foundations. His songwriting boasts an impressive range, switching between mellow acoustic laments to explosive guitar driven instrumentals that spiral in and out of consciousness. Holiday’s newest album Certified Ailments expands upon both. It is an album steeped in sonic manipulation, meticulous in detail, and relentless in execution.
The opening track “Humming” starts with a whoosh of digital wind that careens in and out of looming guitars and tightly driven bass licks. “Moves” drunkenly sways between guitar chords while crashing drums and a tender vocal delivery melt together to become one. The song’s lethargy quickly turns into a tightly orchestrated uptempo bop, punctuated by an exacting lead line and tightened rhythm section before shifting again into a kaleidoscopic instrumental. “In the Sky'' is a melancholy acoustic drawl with wonderfully lush lead guitar lines played by Craig Hlady. “Ancient Baldwin” quickly immerses the listener in blown out guitars and a charismatic vocal performance. “Expire Medicine” utilizes automated drums, a haunting synth drone, and an expertly crafted bass line from Steven Skinner. Tracks like “Wispy Twig'' and “Wonder” play off of bluesy country western elements while implementing scraps of post-rock and electronic drum samples. “No Return” plays like a traditional lo-fi shoegaze track with a melody that floats just above the explosive instrumental below it.
Certified Ailments is a clear labor of love. Its songs are a testament to Hlady’s originality and skill as both engineer and songwriter. The song structures combined with the endlessly entertaining embellishments and willingness to throw predictability to the wind make this a captivating album. It is simultaneously massive in its scope and concise in its execution. It’s not interested in wasting your time. It only wishes to keep you entertained from moment to moment. To put it simply, Certified Ailments is a great album from a talented artist.