A Hawk and a Hacksaw

The Profile

A Hawk and a Hacksaw is an American folk duo from Albuquerque, New Mexico, formed by Jeremy Barnes (formerly of Neutral Milk Hotel) and Heather Trost. Active since 2002, they blend Balkan and Eastern European folk traditions with a global, experimental approach centered on accordion, violin, and piano.

Reviews highlight the project’s accordion-led, Balkan-leaning sound, European folklore influences, and cinematic, vaudevillian touches. Jeremy Barnes’s background with Neutral Milk Hotel and Bright Eyes is noted, as is Heather Trost’s violin. The 2004 self-titled debut and Darkness at Noon receive mixed but appreciative assessments.

Reviews spotlight the band’s accordion-and-piano folk steeped in Balkan and Eastern European colors, with global detours. The 2004 debut is called earthy, disjointed, and charming; Darkness at Noon extends the folk palette with varied atmospheres. References to Neutral Milk Hotel, Bright Eyes, Dvořák, and Kusturica frame a cinematic, carnival-tinted sound. Overall verdict: engaging, eclectic, occasionally superficial, and best enjoyed on headphones.