Microshift

Microshift
Studio album by Hookworms
Released	2 February 2018 (2018-02-02)
Recorded	Suburban Home Studios (Leeds)
Genre	Rock
Length	46:39
Label	Domino
Producer	MJ (Hookworms)
Hookworms chronology
The Hum (2014) Microshift (2018)

Microshift is the third studio album, fourth long play record and final album by British rock band Hookworms. It was released on 2 February 2018 by Domino Recording Company. The album's namesake is an audio plug-in. ^[1] The record is dedicated to "Archie", the band's former live sound engineer.

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . ^[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	8.2/10 [3]
Metacritic	87/100 [4]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
The A.V. Club	B [6]
The Guardian	[7]
Mojo	[8]
NME	[9]
Pitchfork	7.9/10 [10]
Q	[11]
Record Collector	[12]
The Times	[13]
Uncut	8/10 [14]

Microshift received positive reviews upon its release, ^[4] with an average score of 87 out of 100 based on 18 reviews from mainstream critics on Metacritic, indicating universal acclaim. ^[4]

Track listing

Tracks 1–5 and 7–9 were written by Hookworms with lyrics by MJ. Track 6 was written by Alice Mérida Richards and Hookworms.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Negative Space"	6:57
2.	"Static Resistance"	3:49
3.	"Ullswater"	7:08
4.	"The Soft Season"	4:01
5.	"Opener"	8:37
6.	"Each Time We Pass"	5:16
7.	"Boxing Day"	2:19
8.	"Reunion"	2:51
9.	"Shortcomings"	5:41
Total length:		46:39

Personnel

Hookworms

• EO – guitars, backing vocals, additional percussion
• JN – drums, percussion
• JW – guitars
• MB – bass, modular synthesizer, synthesizers
• MJ – lyrics, vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, producing, recording, mixing

Additional personnel

• Alice Mérida Richards – additional vocals and lyrics (track 6); backing vocals – (tracks 1, 2, 4 and 9)
• Christopher Duffin – tenor and soprano saxophone on (tracks 4, 7 and 8)
• Richard Formby – additional Modular Synthesizer (track 5)
• Published by Domino Publishing Co. Ltd
• Recorded by MJ at Suburban Home Studio, Leeds
• Mixed by MJ at Suburban Home Studio, Leeds
• Mastered by Tom Woodhead at Hippocratic Mastering
• Artwork by Louis Byrne

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC) [15]	18

References

1. "Hookworms talk synths in the studio, crowdfunding and how to avoid sounding like Muse". www.getintothis.co.uk/. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
2. "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" . Retrieved 19 December 2019.
3. "Microshift by Hookworms Reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
4. "Microshift by Hookworms". Metacritic . Retrieved 15 February 2018.
5. Sendra, Tim. "Microshift – Hookworms". AllMusic . Retrieved 16 February 2018.
6. O'Neal, Sean (2 February 2018). "Hookworms, Microshift". The A.V. Club . Retrieved 28 March 2018.
7. Petridis, Alexis (1 February 2018). "Hookworms: Microshift review – vast leap forward into a psychedelic future". The Guardian . Retrieved 16 February 2018.
8. Snapes, Laura (March 2018). "Small wonder". Mojo (292): 96.
9. Cochrane, Greg (1 February 2018). "Hookworms – 'Microshift' Album Review". NME . Retrieved 16 February 2018.
10. Berman, Stuart (5 February 2018). "Hookworms: Microshift". Pitchfork . Retrieved 16 February 2018.
11. Segal, Victoria (March 2018). "Hookworms: Microshift". Q (382): 111.
12. Harley, Kevin (January 2018). "Hookworms – Microshift". Record Collector (475). Retrieved 28 March 2018.
13. Hodgkinson, Will (2 February 2018). "Pop review: Hookworms: Microshift" . The Times . Retrieved 28 March 2018.
14. Hughes, Rob (March 2018). "Hookworms: Microshift". Uncut (250): 30.
15. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 February 2018.