"If you want out, well I've showed you
the door. And if you want back in - I'll believe it".
Plenty
of forward-thinking albums pass over the working desks that make
up slightly confusing to a stranger - and so many times
this historic tradition of creating an enjoyable LP gets watered
down and/or over-layered. Far too often, bands sound as if they
had the right plan for building that prized 'early career' album
- but somewhere between pressing record
and making those final edits, they jinxed their own brilliant
ideas. This is not the case with Miguel Zelaya [as The
Harbours] and his debut LP Second Story Maker. An
album that has its genuine heart nestled in the foundation of
"rock music", Second Story Maker opens the
door for the precise amount of influence [nearly four decades
worth - from The Kinks to Wilco], leaving merely an artistic impression
on a fantastic debut album.
Having been an instant fan since Harbours "demo" / EP
made its entrance in the summer of last year - I have
been anticipating Second Story Maker for
some time now. Initially drawn to Zelaya and his spirited vocal
delivery - somewhere between Colin Blunstone and Being There-era
Jeff Tweedy - Second Story builds up
and around everything I first fell in love with. Joined here by
a full band, Zelaya and his acoustic-built anthems are officially
a machine ready for touring.
"When
you're standing in a white room - even rainy days look good to
you".
Throughout this albums solid 44 minutes, Zelaya and his Harbours
have planted those intricate moments of sonic exploration - the
2:00 break on "Season", or the piano / guitar / drum
tango that sweetens "Lonely Heart" - that take an album
from "yeah, that's pretty good" to "look
at the chill bumps on my forearm!".
If it is guitar / electric piano / percussion music done properly
you seek - Second Story Maker is your search delivered.
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