Hiss Golden Messenger

Hiss Golden Messenger
Hiss Golden Messenger live in 2011
Background information
Origin	North Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Indie folk, blues, alternative country, Country rock
Years active	2007 (2007)–present
Labels	Paradise of Bachelors, Heaven & Earth Magic, Blackmaps, Merge
Associated acts	Ex-Ignota, The Court & Spark, Boxharp
Members	MC Taylor

Hiss Golden Messenger is an American folk music band, originating from Durham, North Carolina, led by MC Taylor. For the various recordings he is joined by a number of guest musicians. After releasing his earlier material on his own label, Taylor signed with Merge Records in 2014. In 2016 he released the album Heart Like a Levee and embarked on an international tour.

Taylor was raised in Irvine, Los Angeles, where his father had been a member of a local band, The Settlers.

The band was formed by MC Taylor and Scott Hirsch in 2007, after their relocation in North Carolina. Both Taylor and Hirsch were the members of the hardcore punk band Ex-Ignota and San Francisco-based indie rock band The Court & Spark, whose dissolution led to the formation of the band. The band's early recordings were released through Taylor's own recording label, "Heaven & Earth Magic Recording Company."

The band's debut album, Country Hai East Cotton, was released in 2009 via Taylor's label in a limited edition of 500. This was followed by their international debut album, Bad Debt, in 2010, released via Black Maps. The band's third album, Poor Moon, was released in 2012 via North Carolina-based "Paradise of Bachelors", and received positive reviews. The band's fourth album, Haw, was released on April 2, 2013.

Hiss Golden Messenger was signed to Merge in April 2014 and released their fifth album and Merge label debut, Lateness of Dancers on September 9, 2014.

The band's music contains elements from various musical genres, such as folk, country, dub, country soul, rhythm and blues, bluegrass, jazz, funk, swamp pop, gospel, blues, and rock. The band's style was also described as "alternative country" and "country rock." The band's main influences include the Beatles, The Byrds, and Buffalo Springfield. The band has been compared to Will Oldham and Bill Callahan.