03-12-2023, 10:35
HARP ~ Albion
![[Image: ODYtOTAwOS5qcGVn.jpeg]](https://i.discogs.com/A6sIlXXHg6zmCP3itpUyP8Zqxw_EA2HRWdFhfMeXFPA/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:587/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTI5MDQx/NzA1LTE3MDExMjc5/ODYtOTAwOS5qcGVn.jpeg)
This is a good one for the A/A game! Tim Smith is the erstwhile lead singer of Midlake and this is the debut solo album of the new project, Harp, which is a joint project with his wife Kathi Zung - also a musician, she is primarily responsible for the drum programming from what I can gather. There are a couple of contributions from others – bass and guitar on three tracks and it's a combination of synths and instruments.
Despite being Texas born, this album speaks of Smith's deep love affair with the British Isles and the misty distant past of myth and legend. Melancholic to a large degree, without being thoroughly morose, he’s managed to capture some of the enchantment of the England that was at one time Albion – I’m thinking the Arthurian tales – the romantic parts – not the reality which I’m sorry to put a damper on, but which was most probably quite nasty. There are certain modern-day amenities I’d rather not do without thanks!
Mind you – he does touch on the darker parts of ages long gone in several instances and especially in “Daughters of Albion”, for example (inspired by the similarly titled poem by William Blake). The lyrics are a little enigmatic generally – obviously a personal narrative and that’s ok – it's good that there is room for the imagination to colour in those empty spaces. It’s the feeling in the music and to me, that is the crucial element. All harmonies and most instruments by himself – I liked it. Oh yes - there are two shortish instrumental interludes - one a prologue and the other an interlude, as well as another short sung piece. To me, this really helps to balance an album.
Some tracks that stood out ...
The second track "I am the Seed" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWV9TXm2KRc
"Chrystals" - the short sung one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDYFSv271Ug
And "Seven Long Suns" -
This is a good one for the A/A game! Tim Smith is the erstwhile lead singer of Midlake and this is the debut solo album of the new project, Harp, which is a joint project with his wife Kathi Zung - also a musician, she is primarily responsible for the drum programming from what I can gather. There are a couple of contributions from others – bass and guitar on three tracks and it's a combination of synths and instruments.
Despite being Texas born, this album speaks of Smith's deep love affair with the British Isles and the misty distant past of myth and legend. Melancholic to a large degree, without being thoroughly morose, he’s managed to capture some of the enchantment of the England that was at one time Albion – I’m thinking the Arthurian tales – the romantic parts – not the reality which I’m sorry to put a damper on, but which was most probably quite nasty. There are certain modern-day amenities I’d rather not do without thanks!
Mind you – he does touch on the darker parts of ages long gone in several instances and especially in “Daughters of Albion”, for example (inspired by the similarly titled poem by William Blake). The lyrics are a little enigmatic generally – obviously a personal narrative and that’s ok – it's good that there is room for the imagination to colour in those empty spaces. It’s the feeling in the music and to me, that is the crucial element. All harmonies and most instruments by himself – I liked it. Oh yes - there are two shortish instrumental interludes - one a prologue and the other an interlude, as well as another short sung piece. To me, this really helps to balance an album.
Some tracks that stood out ...
The second track "I am the Seed" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWV9TXm2KRc
"Chrystals" - the short sung one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDYFSv271Ug
And "Seven Long Suns" -
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson