In giving their cover of Sparklehorse’s “Gold Day” a slightly more upbeat pace than the original, Hunting somehow managed not to kill the utterly sensitive and tender vibe of Mark Linkous’ treatment of the It’s a Wonderful Life track. The way the chords ring out and drip tones like sunlight while nearly hushed vocals bid the best and most wondrous times to the subject of the song preserves its warm spirit. The stop motion video with mice and other animals as the principal characters lends what could be a melancholy song a freshness and wholesome quality that also doesn’t come off saccharine. Rather it’s as though director Jessicka intuited the unironic sincerity and kindness behind the song’s writing as interpreted so well by Hunting. When the mouse with the horse mask sprinkles gold dust on the cat to stave off its hunting instinct, it’s truly a magical moment. Look for Hunting’s new album Whatever You Need due out November 1, 2019.
Queen City Sounds and Art 