Dissonants

Background

Hands Like Houses began recording the album in April 2015. The band worked with James Paul Wisner, whom they had previously worked with on their sophomore effort, Unimagine (2013). After about two months, the band said that the album was near completion. During an interview with ppcorn.com, guitarist Alex Pearson gave a tentative October release date for the album.

Despite a few setbacks, including the cancellation of a headline UK tour in November 2015, the band announced on December 18, 2015 that the album would be released on February 26, 2016 and unveiled the album's full track listing and artwork. The band performed two free acoustic performances with signings in Australia upon the album's release.

Reception

The album was met with critical acclaim upon its release. Most critics citing the album's massive choruses, the lyrics, and Trenton Woodley's vocals. Most credited the band's "heavier" sound as part of the album's success.

Writing for Highlight Magazine, Annette Hansen said of the lyrics, "The magic on this record, though, is in the emotional appeal and lush imagery presented in the lyrics. As I kept listening to this album, hearing more and more of the lyrics each time, it was hard not to want to make note of many beautiful lines." She went on to quote songs Colourblind and Stillwater as examples.

Matt Doria of Blunt Magazine praised Woodley's programming and lyrics in particular, writing, "...synths are indefinitely more refined - less obnoxious, but as prevalent as they've ever been. Along with a broadened hot-to-cold singing range, his songwriting has also sharpened tenfold; subject matter is the same as it's always been, but Woodley is no longer appealing exclusively to Newtown hipsters..."

In general, most reviewers cited tracks Glasshouses, Stillwater, and Degrees of Separation as the album highlights, along with singles, I Am, New Romantics, and Colourblind.

Track listing

All songs written by Hands Like Houses, with additional writers listed