PRESS FOR 'Half of What is Seen/The Marigold' 7"
Apothecary Hymns is the operational alias of Alex Stimmel, who also plays in the brooklyn rock group, Lonehawk. On his debut single, “Half of What is Seen”/The Marigold” (Jugendstil 7”), Mr. Stimmel pulls off classic Syd Barrett moves the way most people pull off socks. That’s the A-side. On the flip he does something a bit different, a bit more complex, combining acoustic and electric guitars to create a folk rock readymade with loner and acid proclivities. Beat that with a stick! (Byron Coley)
-The Wire
... On a more sedated level comes the new release from Apothecary Hymns. Not only is the literal visual translation of the band name conveyed on the sleeve, but also the dreamy, hallucinatory essence of the music is satirically represented by the druggist theme. “Half of What is Seen” b/w “The Marigold” (Jugendstil 77) reproduces a well composed and expertly lit photograph of vintage medicine bottles.
A custom label with the band logo and song title is creatively incorporated into the still life. Adding to the special nature of this edition of 500 is individually hand-numbered in a space provided on that bottle label. This intrestingly blurs the line between reality and contrivance, fact and fiction. (Charles Szabla)
-Goldmine (Annual Indie Label Issue)
"Half of What is Seen" starts as an introverted fractured folk ala solo Syd Barrett waking up in a sleepy glade. Slow almost country unfoldings to reach a big electric guitar, bass and drums sections before we return to Syd's meadow. The flipside "The Marigold" is an even stronger track. A sparkling fluid and melodic folk rock with supple multiinstrumental playing blending into a bandlike cohesion, with fine psychedelic poetic lyrics. All the work of loner home-recording wizard Alex Stimmel. Both sides of this limited edition 45, bode well for the upcoming Apothecary Hymns full length debut on the Locust Music label. (George Parsons)
-Dream Magazine
This limited edition 7" single by Brooklyn artist Alex Stimmel is ten minutes of a singer-songwriter who plays a mean acoustic guitar and hews to an eclectic folk tradition. In only two songs, you can hear Robyn Hitchcock and heroin days James Taylor. The b-side is a more straightforward folk number accentuated by Stimmel's confident and tricky guitar pickings and a ≤ tempo that plays almost like an air or waltz. As Apothecary Hymns, Stimmel harkens back to an East Village style of troubadourism that relied on talent without effects and studio gimmickry. The a-side is longer and colored with antique textures like banjo and harmonica, then shifts into garage-distorted feedback, then melts into a flute and strummed guitar Syd Barrett section. AH doesn't fall easily into any categories. I could see a full-length drawing out more of these interesting stylistic shifts (like the a-side) and appealing to fans of contemporary weirdo eclectic artists like the Kill Rock Stars roster and the West Coast folkies like Dearest, Crown. (Paul Leeds)
-Culture Bunker
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Immediately when I heard the first seconds of this single I thought this was much more Syd Barrett in mood then what most cover bands did with Syd Barret‚s songs. But it is also more than that. We hear a variety of musical themes/playing in several blocks of ideas, in psychfolk, psychfolkpop, and psych styles, compiled to one beautiful compact song. Second side is an alternative folkpsych song with some American accent, and with beautifully enriching-the-musical-ideas acoustic guitar improvisations. Recommended. Only 500 printed.
-Psych Van Het Folk
'Half of what is seen' is a fine slice of whimsy from Apothecary Hymns which sparkles its way out of the speakers with some fine fret work and engaging harmonies. B-side of the 7-inch single 'The Marigold' does not disappoint either with a folky feel and an excellent vocal performance and both songs would not be out of place on a rubbles compilation.
-Ptolemaic Terrascope
