The High Water Marks craft a style blending indie pop’s lo-fi exuberance with a fuzzy texture that transcends mere hiss. Their direction comes from the compositions and performances of Hilarie Sidney, once of the Apples in Stereo, alongside Per Ole Bratset from Palermo. Having produced a run of lively records throughout the 2000s, the pair moved to Norway. Following a break, they reemerged in 2020 via Ecstasy Rhymes, which delivers the energetic punch and bright vibe reminiscent of an Elephant 6 standout. Cementing their evolved direction, early 2022 brought Proclaimer of Things, captured across studios in Norway and the United States, while Your Next Wolf in 2023 emerged as a transatlantic effort showcasing their buoyant, energetic pop at peak potency.
Exhausted by the male-dominated Elephant 6 environment during her time as drummer, occasional songwriter, and vocalist with the Apples in Stereo, Hilarie Sidney sought fresh avenues for her material. In Oslo, Norway, during 2002, she encountered Per Ole Bratset, a Palermo member and Apples enthusiast, at a performance; their connection fostered an exchange of musical concepts via correspondence. Forming the High Water Marks, Bratset journeyed to the U.S. for their inaugural recording. Handling every instrument on the lo-fi yet vigorous Songs About the Ocean debut, the result aligned closely with Elephant 6 aesthetics, yet Sidney and Bratset shared songwriting and vocal responsibilities evenly. For Polar in 2007, they enlisted Mike Snowden on drums from Van Hemmling—where Sidney had previously played—and Jim Lindsay on bass from Oranger. Married with a child by then, they scaled back commitments, prompting Sidney’s departure from the Apples in Stereo. Songwriting persisted amid family and educational responsibilities. Sidney pursued a graduate degree including studies in Norway, prompting the band’s revival with Oslo-based additions Logan Miller and Øystein Megård. As multi-instrumentalists, the quartet achieved a cohesive group dynamic. Sessions at Miller’s studio yielded Ecstasy Rhymes, issued by Minty Fresh in 2020. Accelerating their output, 2022’s Proclaimer of Things utilized home setups belonging to Miller and Sidney in the U.S. alongside Bratset and Megård’s Norwegian facilities. The remote approach proved fruitful, leading to the same method for 2023’s Your Next Wolf, an energetic and captivating collection. Minty Fresh handled the vinyl edition, with 6612 Tapes, a Norwegian independent imprint, releasing it on cassette.
