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Filled with stillness, the first album from Harp evokes the peacefulness of Sussex fields as it reflects on the pain of losing creativity, the emptiness of loneliness, and the mixed emotions of new love. Drawing inspiration from William Blake, Herstmonceux Castle, and the Cure’s dark album Faith, Tim Smith and Kathi Zung construct a desolate soundscape using echoes of 80s music, ethereal singing, and crisp, metallic percussion. The overall effect is reminiscent of a never-ending dusk.
Ten years have passed since Smith’s departure from the Texas folk-rock group Midlake due to creative disagreements. Fans of his previous music will appreciate the intricate and nuanced elements in this album, such as synthesized strings, sirens, and airy flutes blended with electric and acoustic guitar. Unfortunately, Smith’s powerful and sorrowful vocals are overshadowed by the overwhelming layers of sound.
The majority of the record features songs with a slow tempo, beginning with a dreamy stroll through the soothing greys of the first instrumental track and continuing into the heavy terrain of the single, “I Am the Seed.” This song serves as a metaphor for Smith’s struggle with perfectionism, as he sings, muffled: “All that once gave is now barren and unproductive.”
Although the themes are powerful, there is a lack of intensity in Albion, as if there is no spark among the pale cliffs. The track Silver Wings is the closest to breaking the album’s somber atmosphere: Smith’s vocals are bolder, accompanied by stronger drums from Zung and a more forceful acoustic strum. He proclaims, “I felt it start / With a multitude of new ideas,” appearing to be on the verge of a breakthrough. In this debut album, Harp lays the groundwork for something hopeful that has yet to fully blossom.
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Albion is released via Bella Union on 1 December
Source: theguardian.com
