Not feeling well; Tired; Out of category? Hot Chip's Joe Goddard has you covered Harmonicthe London producer's third solo album, and a record so relentlessly compassionate you might feel like it's being smothered by a pack of golden retrievers.
Goddard has history here. Hot Chip, the band he co-founded with Alexis Taylor, are known for their hand-wringing tunes, while his project 2 Bears, with Raf Rundell, once released the charming 'Bear Hug', a song that Literally he promised to take you in his arms. Goddard's 2011 single 'Gabriel', meanwhile, is such a beautifully performed, deeply felt pop-house song that it almost manages to escape the charred emotional void at its core VULTURES 1“You're Asking For Forgiveness,” where Ye turned his chorus into a defense of Chris Brown, of all people.
But Harmonic it truly is a festival of warmth, from its heartfelt name down. Goddard designed the record, he says, to be “lovable, romantic – and fun,” and that approach extended to Harmoniously' production; Goddard tried not to impose meaning on the music or his collaborators. Sure, everything sounds very welcoming: The beats bounce around heavily at an inclusive 125 BPM as the music takes a relaxing stroll through the dance styles that have long dominated Goddard's work, namely house, garage (both UK and US), funk and soul. The synths shine persistently and a stream of guest vocalists pour their hearts out into songs that are heavy on tales of romantic intrigue.
Yet, Harmonic it's not really a happy album – more of a sad one, with a deep strain of “chin up mate” encouragement. Goddard's melodies tend toward the bleak, and an understated melancholy permeates Harmonic like the nostalgia of the end of summer. Sure, there's romance, but we're a long way from happiness. “Why do we love then in this world/Why do we have to try again, hurt ourselves,” Goddard muses on “Follow You,” a vaguely gothic rock-soul number. The album's guests don't sound in much better humor: “Deep down I know exactly what to do/But how can I find healing in song?” Milan-based singer-songwriter Fiorious rocks the gospel home of 'New World (Flow)'.
This melancholic dance form makes for some beautiful moments. “On My Mind” is the kind of ruminative 2-step that Jamie xx wishes he could pull off, while “Summon,” featuring ex-Wild Beast Hayden Thorpe, is a Larry Heard fantasy of beats and disco introspection . Sometimes, though, the relentless march of default boom-tish house and bittersweet synth melodies gets a little suffocating—less comforting than the simple comfort zone.
What's disappointing is that there's a more adventurous album trying to escape underneath Harmoniously' house-y shroud, where Goddard's more intrepid collaborators really take the lead. “Miles Away”, featuring Guinea singer Falle Nioke and “Progress”, featuring Ibibio Sound Machine, both touch on Afro-house. “When Love's Out of Fashion,” featuring British rapper Oranje, skips hip-hop. and “Revery,” featuring Alabaster DePlume, has a hint of Underground Resistance-style space jazz in the sax groove.
The fact that these are among the best songs on the record is no accident. Goddard's empathetic stance is a welcome antidote to our divided world and often pays off. But a little truly great art is made by committee. HarmonicThe collection of relatable songs and interesting ideas could use a stronger hand on the rubber to reach its destination.
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