Harper Lee - Train Not Stopping

  by Olga Sladeckova

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Review

Harper Lee consists of Keris Howard (vocals, guitars, keyboard) and Laura Bridge (guitars, keyboard, drums), who have taken some time out from their regular bands, Trembling Blue Stars and Kicker, to further develop their musical creativity. The duo first appeared together on two 7" singles 'Dry Land' and 'Bug', and then followed this with an album 'Go Back To Bed'. Keris and Laura really prove that their Stars-Kicker union works well on their latest single 'Train Not Stopping'. I first played it one Saturday night. I was staying over at my friend's house. She went to bed early and, feeling like a stranger in her big lounge, I put the single on to keep me company. As I lay feeling cold on the sofa, the music literally covered over me with its warmth. My mind took off wandering back into the past as Keris sang on the opening title song: "This is the last stop/ At the emptiest platform/ The final walk home." Peaceful guitars mingle with piano and drums to keep the beat of the song moving. " I'm scared to be so alone/ It seems so simple right now/ What I could have done is what I should have done..."Keris continues. Open, beautiful and honest, this is the sort of lyric that once you apply it to your own life, it could help to see you through it. While the music "sat" next to me, I looked deep into my own soul as I watched bubbles melting and waggling in a lava lamp and listened to the peaceful melody of the second track 'I Could Be There For You'. 'The Sea Gently Lifting',the closing track, resounds with jingly guitars and Keris's calm vocals. It has been suggested that Harper Lee are in the same spirit as Belle and Sebastian, Keris and Laura, however, use a range of instrumental possibilities fully to deepen and extend their sound, which results in...in...simply the 'Train Not Stopping'. Enjoy it!

Track Listing:-

1 Train Not Stopping
2 I Could Be There For You
3 The Sea Gently Lifting

Label Links:-

http://matineerecordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/matineerecord