1998’s “Rustic Houses, Forlorn Valleys” and 1999’s “The Cycle of Days and Seasons” can be ordered from Norman Records.

One of Opus’ favorite bands gets the deluxe reissue treatment.

Every single note, melody, and beat on So This Is Goodbye has been streamlined and polished as much as possible.

Hood’s music, even in EP form, is as mercurial and affecting as ever, while still managing to hint at exciting things that may come.

Few bands convey the dreariness of the colder seasons, as well as the wistfulness for something better as well as Hood does.

A sense of warmth and comfort pervades every song on this album.

Even longtime Clinic fans may find this more of the same.

If there’s a heaven, I hope that this is the soundtrack.

While Hebden’s sonic layering can be bewildering, there’s a definite sense of exploration about it that never disappears.

Tension and apprehension lie throughout this entire record, mixed with breakneck beats and rhythms. And it works beautifully.

But there’s just too much going on at once in these songs, and it’s not used effectively.

I say that I’m frustrated by this album because it’s very easy for me to dismiss it, when a part of me knows I should be enraptured by it.