Harper Simon: Harper Simon album review

It could be said that the release of your debut album at the age of 37 is something quite overdue for a musician, especially one of these talents. After all, it's in his blood, right?

Being the son of Paul Simon alone does give you a reputation to live up to. However, also choosing to enter a career that your father was rather successful in is brave to say the least, although growing up surrounded by music and musicians maybe it was inevitable that Harper would always take this path.
Success isn't genetic but comparisons will always be made. It's time now for him to find his voice.

Educated at the renowned Berklee College of Music, he grafted his musical and performing skills by playing the club circuit in New York, his hometown, in the early 90s. Thereafter he then collaborated with numerous artists including English cult band Menlo Park for whom he wrote songs and played guitar. Another collaboration of note was with fellow son of musical greatness, Sean Lennon, offspring of music legends John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Simon appeared on Lennon's album Friendly Fire and also accompanied him on tour, opening for Rufus Wainwright and The Strokes. 

The people featuring in the production of this album give a taste of folk scene at it's height in the 1960s and 70s. Bob Johnston was at the helm as producer, famous for his work with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Johnny Cash. Session players included Charlie McCoy and Hargus Robbins, members of the original "Nashville A-Team", who played in sessions with numerous artists along with Lloyd Green, who was pedal steel player with The Byrds. Of course, also, father Paul had to pop his head into the studio door, co-writing Tennessee and The Shine, but these songs don't strike as the most memorable or ear catching on the album (although Tennessee does has a sweet country feel to it).

Harper Simon - Harper Simon

The opening track of this album, All to God, an old Shaker Hymn that was recorded close to before the mastering process began, gives us a euphoric introduction. It begins with just the voice and acoustic guitar which slowly transcends into a distorted meditative drone. Harper Simon is among us.

Harper Simon - Wishes and Stars

Wishes and Stars follows. An upbeat song full of feeling and wholeness, it shows the artist as a confident singer-songwriter (as the Lennonesque sunglasses suggest in the video below). The beat drives the foot-tapping tune, a feel-good, melodious indie-folk number with a simple string accompaniment that gives a rich roundness to the song.This is more in the style we will expect from Simon. Clean cut and radio friendly.

Harper Simon - Shooting Star (unofficial video)

A country influence can be heard in the fourth song, Shooting Star. With the pedal slide guitar beaming throughout the intro and chorus backing the free spirited lyrics, it feels like the perfect song to sit back and bask in a summer afternoon. Ah yeah..

Harper Simon - Berkeley Girl

Berkeley Girl, a slow paced beautiful and gleeful number with a finger picking guitar arrangement that would want to make you chew that damn piece of straw under those stars on the porch all night long and reminisce about all the good times. The simple lyrics hang heavy on the soul, sounding very Simon and Garfunkel, the calm voice is so uncanny it's almost scary. A fitting song to finish the album. 

The Legacy Continues...

This artist brings us into his musical world, with its roots firmly coming from the 1970s folk scene, the era Harper Simon grew up. The album develops these influences to become the wholesome contemporary indie-folk anthems of brilliance that we hear here and also in the music of other modern day folk and country influenced artists such as Band of Horses and chart toppers and concert favourites Kings of Leon. There is a lingering mellowness that can makes it impossible for this man to be anything other than his father's son (no suspicion as to mother Peggy faithfulness intended). The gift inherited can be seen in the strong songwriting ability in this album, the same talent that won his father critical acclaim and recording success both as a solo artist and as a duet in the form of Simon and Garfunkel. 

The rise of Harper Simon to come to the stage of releasing his solo album was one not of a meteoric one based on his father's merits but rather one built with care until the seeds were right to be sown for his own unique crop of talents to emerge. The torch has passed and it's shining a new light in a changing musical world. This album shows the world a hard working musician finally given his time for centre stage. It's relaxing, it's smooth, it's Harper Simon.