David Harland – The Escapist
David is a finger-style guitarist in the fashion of Michael Hedges & sometimes Leo Kottke & John Fahey but without the rural dust & traditional curve. His guitar playing is expressive & has clarity with excellent tone. Though there is no vocal the guitar seems to speak through the notes off the strings.
There are 10 instrumental endeavors on the Minneapolis, MN recorded The Escapist (Drops Oct 4/Independent) produced by Matt Patrick (ambient electric guitar).
Some melodies (“Fog In the Valley”) have the haunting quality of the late English singer-songwriter Nick Drake & John Martyn. At times the melodies seem to reach out for words. On closer listen & with some imagination you can hear the guitar playing suggesting lyrics.
Though I enjoy many of David’s intriguing, haunting melodies I don’t find his guitar playing as a stand-alone feature as Kottke or Fahey. Now, that sounds like a put-down but what I’m saying/suggesting is that these melodies are so strong they are petitioning my ears for words, a story to make them as classic as Nick Drake, John Martyn, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, or Richard Thompson. “South Hill Climb” is exceptional & infectious. The kind of music Fahey played was so traditional, old-timey & stylized that vocals weren’t necessary – but David’s aren’t crafted in the same kiln. Though Kottke is not a great singer, I always found his rare vocal with his guitar playing (“Chewing Pine” LP) vibrant & quirky good.
Many of these instrumentals are also of the quality that would lend them to soundtracks. Much as Randy Newman’s compositions, John Newton Howard & Thomas Newman. Mr. Harland’s sense of melody & his intensity on the guitar inhabits the arrangements singularly in a magical way.
The melody of “Descension” is impactful & noirish. It conjures images in the mind. The finale, “Sleeping Buddha” almost gives the impression that David’s playing a sitar. This is headphone music for sure.
The beauty in these compositions, their continuity — none are bombastic, overblown, self-serving showboating performances. They go somewhere, they project feelings through the finely attuned arrangements despite the spare instrumentation.
This is an album of purity & elegance throughout. It’s amazing what some wood, finely tuned strings & human fingers can do.
Highlights – “Ascension,” “The Escapist,” “Fog In the Valley,” “The Lost Lowlands,” “South Hill Climb,” “Descension” & “Sleeping Buddha.”
Musicians – Cierra Alise Hill (cello/violin),
Color image courtesy of David’s Bandcamp. Darker seated image by Shelly Mosman.
CD @ Apple Music + Bandcamp & https://www.davidharlandmusic.com/