![]() How we mixed it initially isn’t how we ended up mixing it, which is different than how I’d mix it now. But spending so long on this record, and having it be an ongoing project-things were wide open, so our approach evolved over time. “Normally you hit the studio, track it, mix it and wrap it up as fast as possible. “There are so many time puns I’m trying to hold back”, wisecracks Oliva, reflecting on the meandering odyssey of a recording process. The Harlequins’ aptly named new record, ‘TIME’-their eighth full-length (and first since 2016’s acclaimed ‘One With You’)-is a diligently honed yet effortlessly flowing sonic journey recorded across the span of five years. They’ve since shared bills with Ty Segall, Cherry Glazerr, Kurt Vile, Deerhoof, Ride and Kikagaku Moyo. Founded in 2007, the intrepid Cincinnati power trio-Michael Oliva on guitar & vocals, Alex Stenard on bass and Robert Stamler on drums-made its bones alongside contemporaries such as the Black Lips, Gringo Star, La Luz and Thee Oh Sees. Unfortunately, the song is as relevant today-four years later-as when Oliva wrote it.Īfter 15 years in the rock & roll trenches, The Harlequins have emerged as bonafide scene veterans-enduring anti-heroes of the American garage-psych underground. Harlequins singer-guitarist Michael Oliva actually wrote the song back in 2018, furious about political inaction in the wake of the Parkland high-school shooting, and all the moneyed interests standing in the way of reform while these preventable tragedies repeat themselves. In the wake of the horrific elementary-school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, it’s enough to stop any listener in their tracks. The song begins with the chiling lyric, “Wash the blood of the children / From your filthy hand”. “‘The Tower’ is bleak, sludgy psych rock, with a vibe as evil as the politicians it eviscerates. Fans of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, and even Eric Clapton will enjoy this, as it is a tremendous guitar record.‘The Tower’ by The Harlequins | New Album, ‘TIME’ Exclusive video premiere of ‘The Tower’ by The Harlequins, taken from the upcoming album, ‘TIME’, out September 2nd via Dizzybird Records. Overall, “A Space in Time” is a very underrated album by a very underrated band. But it’s a hard world with the junkie blues.” ‘Cause it’s a good life, too good to lose. ![]() “Got no monkey on my back, and I’m never gonna crack. Another underscore of the record is anti-drug song Hard Monkeys, in which argues that life is too good to risk using drugs. Let the Sky Fall is a standout track, in which includes psychedelic vocals not unlike Jimi Henrix's The Wind Cries Mary. “A Space in Time” proves to be a diverse album, ranging from the folky Here They Come, to the 50’s throwback Baby Won’t You Let Me Rock and Roll You. Lee’s best performance however, is in single I’d Love to Change the World, in which his leads are truly incendiary. Uncle Jam is another highlight of Lee’s play on this record, it is practically a two-minute jam in which trades off between solos from Lee and Churchill (on keyboards). Starting off with slower leads in the verses, the track builds to a faster, Stevie Ray Vaughn-esque solo. The opener One of These Days is a tremendous example of this. His blues style is somewhat of a hybrid of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton, and is successful at many speeds. While listening to this album it’s easy to come to the assumption that Alvin Lee is underrated and virtually unknown. The album itself however, is a well-developed and diverse blues record. “A Space in Time” was the band’s best seller, and the only album in which they had a successful single. In the late 60’s and early 70’s the band released several critically acclaimed records, including “Ssssh” and “A Space in Time.” Guitarist and vocalist Alvin Lee was the driving force behind the band, providing exceptional blues leads and the majority of the songwriting. Ten Years After was a blues rock band that was formed in Nottingham, England in 1967. ![]() This piano and acoustic guitar driven song flows beautifully, with the help of some tremendous blues guitar and a simple message “I’d love to change the world, but I don’t know what to do, so I leave it up to you.” After hearing the song, I decided to check out the album, and what I discovered was an excellent blues rock record. He described I’d Love to Change the World as one of the greatest songs of his generation, and having listened to it, I have to agree. Review Summary: "A Space in Time" is an intricately developed and diverse blues rock record.Ībout a week ago, my father asked me to check out a song. ![]()
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