Kyle Harvey Anywhere But Here
Hailing from Western Colorado, Kyle is a true troubadour and poet. His new album Anywhere But Here is recorded with just the bare bones; it’s just a guy and his acoustic guitar and a mic. It’s soothing and natural sounding, like a walk in the woods or a meditation by a mountain stream. Pretty and disarming. This album is about losing someone you love dearly, a breakup and the many steps it takes to process the empty space it leaves behind. Kyle’s poetic skills craft the most poignant bittersweet songs you can imagine.
“I Hope You Find Your Gold” is thoughtful and comforting wishes for the best for someone: “I know you’ve been hurtin,’ hurtin’ for a long long time / I want you to know I believe in you.” And man, it hurts to let someone go. This song demonstrates that love songs aren’t always about the one you stay with.
On “Neon Lights Are Good For the Blues” the processing of breakup pain continues: “Since you left me, I haven’t moved you sweater. It still hangs on the back of the chair.” Sometimes we need to take some time to grieve, and this song gently probes that sorrow and feeling of emptiness. “Anything to ease the pain, there’s gotta be a way to dull this memory of you.” Quiet, reflective, just sad. In “Love Song Without You In It” the title sets the stage but there’s no preparing for the cathartic release this one offers” “love’s a fickle thing, I can spin you a yarn or sing you the truth but there’s one thing I can’t do, I can’t write a love song without you in it. You’ve always been my favorite rhyme. I can’t write a love song without you in it.”
On “So Many Ways To Say Goodnight” the gentle stories from the heart continue, as Kyle gently plucks at your heartstrings once again: “There are so many ways to say goodnight.” In “A Poem In Your Hair” there’s the enthralling line: “I thought I saw you standing there with a poem in your hair.”
On the title track Kyle’s fingers again pluck your tender feelings, as it’s a wish to get away to that tavern up the river that “serves their whiskey without tears.” “Parallel” identifies that part of the breakup where you’re drinking too much to manage the pain and ultimately encounter yourself: “I paid my tab and stumbled out, I bought a fifth and drank it down, I threw that bottle on the ground, the breaking glass it makes a pretty sound. You’ve been running parallel to something only fortunes tell.”
Kyle has a fluid voice that can rise and fall a couple of octaves and the style is always easy, never punchy. The acoustic guitar playing takes it easy while the poetry flows. It sounds lovely regardless, but if you happen to be in the midst of a breakup this album will keep you company along the way.
Find more details and information here on his website: https://kyleharveymusic.com/
Anywhere But Here was recorded by Kyle Harvey at The Darkroom Studio in Fruita, CO. It was mixed by Ian Aeillo in Omaha, NE using analog outboard gear, including EQ’s, compression, reverbs and delays from the 80’s and 90’s. Mastering was by Doug Van Sloun at Focus Mastering.