Native Harrow - Happier Now

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 22 / 10 / 2019

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After twenty-odd years (and they have been) away from the UK, I still miss and pine for the home country I loved, even though I know it no longer exists. Circumstances prevent me just now, but if ever I felt the need to return it’s this month because at the time of writing two acts with new albums out on the Loose Records label are touring the UK. Frankie Lee recently released a contender for album of the year with ‘Stillwater’, and he’s currently touring the UK with Native Harrow, a duo whose third album ‘Happier Now’ has just been issued. And what an album it is. Even Frankie Lee has competition now. Those already smitten and familiar with Devin Tuel’s gentle vocal tones will know what to expect from this latest collection of nine original songs. For those yet to discover this captivating singer, the cover art of Tuel in her late Sixties/early Seventies finery gives a major indication of what to expect; the fact that almost every review of ‘Happier Now’ will no doubt mention Laurel Canyon, and that sleeve conjures up thoughts of Carole King during her ‘Tapestry’ period just hammers home those thoughts. So yes, there is a lovely, warm Laurel Canyon vibe running through ‘Happier Now’, yet while listening (and this is an album that you find yourself actually listening to) it’s like discovering all those innovative female singer-songwriters from that era all over again. While Native Harrow recall those times, they also bring something new to the table. This is in no small part due to the fact that, although Devin Tuel is getting all the attention just now (and with that voice and her talent of fitting a compelling story into a three-minute song it’s deserved), there are two other players in this story who do so much more than merely embellish Tuel’s stories. Stephen Harms is Tuel’s bandmate, a muti-instrumentalist who plays guitar, bass, drums and keyboards throughout the album and who so obviously shares the same musical vision as Tuel. The duo co-produced the nine songs with Alex Hall, who also, it appears, shares a love of that Laurel Canyon sound and is adept at capturing it while also adding a little of that fairy dust to make a classic sound so contemporary. While the third track ‘Blue Canyon’ is even more beautiful than its title suggests and is no doubt going to prompt many to cite Joni Mitchell as an influence on Tuel, the atmosphere created by the trio is spine-chilling, and, although Tuel’s vocal performance is almost heart-stopping, it’s the combination of these three artists pulling in the same direction which makes the performance so special. But there’s so much more on offer here than a rehash of Seventies folk; ‘Something You Have’, due to Harms’ gorgeous keyboard playing, mixes in a little southern soul into their sound. Tuel’s vocals are at their best here; softly expressive this is soul music at its deepest. The result is a song that you want to wrap yourself in during the long winter evenings that are on their way. It’s one of those songs that you don’t want to keep to yourself; the whole world should share its beauty. ‘Round and Round’ is another song which shows that Native Harrow are capable of introducing new ideas into that classic sound which we’ve by now come to expect from them. There’s a slight jazz element to the arrangement. Harms' contribution to this track plays an equal part in the atmosphere created to that of Tuel’s compelling vocal. With such a talented vocalist stealing the show on every cut, it’s fair to say that Harms' role in these songs should not be underestimated, and that he should be receiving as much praise as Tuel for the overall sound produced here. As much as this writer would have liked to have not mentioned Joni Mitchell when putting these thoughts on Devin Tuel together, for once it’s a comparison which is justified; but it’s frustrating because Tuel is so much more than a mere copyist. While those classic Laurel Canyon sounds form the basis of this album, the end result is a modern take by artists who are brave and confident enough to push boundaries. Despite the closing track ‘Way to Light’ clocking in at just short of seven minutes and which shows that Tuel wasn’t only listening intently to Mitchell, Carole King and Judee Sill (there’s a touch of Bobbie Gentry in there adding a slight blues vibe), the backing from Harms is again outstanding and sympathetic ,bringing out the best in Tuel’s voice and lyrics. The whole album lasts just 36 minutes. But that’s 36 perfect minutes and a reason to hit that replay button.

Track Listing:-

1 Can't Go on Like This
2 How You Do Things
3 Blue Canyon
4 Happier Now
5 Hard to Take
6 Something You Have
7 Round and Round
8 Hung Me out to Dry
9 Way to Light

Label Links:-

http://loosemusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/loosemusic
https://twitter.com/looseMusic
http://www.last.fm/user/Loose_Music
https://www.youtube.com/loosemusic
https://instagram.com/loose_music/

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