Harvey
Charles – Here And Now (Independent)
Harvey Charles has certainly paid his musical dues.
He began playing professionally in the mid-‘60s on a Florida television
station, opened for the Beach Boys, Turtles and Four Tops, and moved onto to
radio jingles and a record deal that went bad, which put him off recording for
a number of years. In the late ‘80s he relocated to Los Angeles, played gigs
whenever he could, and eventually found his way back to Florida in 2005. Since
his return he’s begun recording again, releasing “Only Thing I'll Ever Miss” in
2009 and “False Profits, Love, & Border Towns” in 2011. “Here And Now” is
his latest offering, and its mix of traditional American folk and acoustic
blues is easy to enjoy.
Recorded quite simply, with the minimum of production
frills, “Here And Now” relies on Charles songs and their arrangements, together
with his vocals and musicianship to carry the day. He doesn’t disappoint.
There’s warmth to his style that completely engages the listener, and on
standout songs such as “Reason to Stay” and “Time to Cry” it’s impossible not
to be swept along. His voice, somewhere between Presley’s deep tones and Lloyd
Cole’s croon, but with added fragility, is especially effective on the ‘50s
inspired twosome, “Pittsburg” and “Tell Moma (I Ain't Coming Home)”.
Phil S.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.