1. Staircase – stream / download mp3
2. Cornerstone
3. Well
4. Fourbee – stream / download mp3
5. You Have The Go-Ahead
6. Nexus – stream / download mp3
7. The Broken Anger
8. Place Where Something Fell
9. Outside The Crater
10. You Already Know The Answer and I’m Not Joking – stream / download mp3 (mis-labeled as “The Broken Anger”)
11. I’m So In Love (And Never Thought That It Would Be You) – stream / download mp3
12. Constellations – stream / download mp3
13. Under My Protection
Eight months might not seem like a long turnaround between records, but h&s were in Columbus NE for four days of recording with Fred Ritter over New Years’ 2001-02, less than a year after beginning to write music and releasing “Bigger Sounds From Fewer Folks.” The songs written immediately after the first record and over the summer were generally passed over in favor of newer material and a fuller sound. “near and far” outpaces the pleasant meanderings of the band’s previous effort with a confident stride and a broader palette of sound, including more voices and drums, hints of pop-style verse/chorus/verse songs, a sprinkle of strange effects, and an Armstrong-esque jazz scat. This music is not for the faint of heart, mind, soul, or sound.