Corey Harper’s new EP, Barely Put Together (AWAL Recordings), despite its title, is excellently put together. Although anyone who burns the midnight oil can relate to this title concept — it’s 3am on 8/2/19 as I write this review, so I do! On this EP, the California – based Harper pulls from a variety of influences, notably blues and folk, with an acoustic foundation of indie-folk and pop elements, and he revises the genres into an energetic, lively new perspective.
I dug reviewing this young singer-songwriter phenom due to the quality of the recording and producing. It reminded me of a time when I learned sound engineering in Tulsa, OK in the 1970s from Black Oak Arkansas sound man, Al Cahen. The production on Barely Put Together showcases the raw talent Corey Harper brings to the Americana genre.
When I first heard the opening track of “Blind,” it was mesmerizing, as he sang “we’re stuck in this again … we stop and we start again.” The song is a story of a distance relationship. This etheric sounding and lyrical composition will please any audiophile. It is beautifully recorded and mixed, and exciting to the ears!
The song “Better” features complex guitar work, upbeat yet tribal sounding vocals, hand claps, clear acoustic guitar tones and an uplifting, hopeful lyrical message.
The closing track, “Best of Me” is an open and emotional track. Starting with only vocals and acoustic guitar in a big echoey sound, the song then opens up as the music falls in around the core, and Corey Harper powers the lyrics of regret.
The Barely Put Together EP was available as of August 2nd. Harper has toured with Justin Bieber, Niall Horan, Noah Kahan, Julia Michaels and has also performed at Bonnaroo, BottleRock, Sasquatch, Ohana Festival and more. Stay tuned for the latest from Corey Harper and for more info, please visit www.coreyharpermusic.com.