Leo Harmonay’s first album, Somewhere Over the
Hudson, served notice that a talented new singer/songwriter in the folk
tradition had emerged with a wide command of the genre and different ideas
about how to manifest its traditions in engaging, modern ways. He isn’t a
strict purist and both the drumming and guitar work on the album reflects his
willingness to think outside the norm and bring new textures into the music.
His second album The Blink of an Eye features eleven tracks that reaffirm the
virtues of the genre while still reflecting Harmonay’s personal ambitions and
musical excellence. He has the unique ability, certainly not shared by every performer
in the field, for bringing these retro sounds into a modern context and making
it work without much apparent effort.
The songs on this new album are either folk or
blues in approach with stylistic deviations that set them apart from run of the
mill efforts in this genre. Songs like “Up to You” and “Gone Are the Days” are
the album’s clearest excursions into the blues genre and they work
exceptionally well. The reason for their success, however, isn’t because
Harmonay hits all of the expected blues notes. Instead, it’s because he takes
the form and, instead of cutting a tribute with his songwriting credit
attached, he tries to use it as a genuine vehicle for self-expression while
never strictly serving up what the listener expects. A small handful of songs
are cut from a purist folk cloth. The earliest of these, “River Dancer”,
doesn’t flow as freely as some of the later attempts, but it’s probably the
strongest lyrically. “Wounds of Love” and “Dirty River Town” have familiar
elements, both musically and lyrically, but the mechanics of each performance
are so vividly rendered that it redeems any flaw. Harmonay’s vocal tops off
both of these aforementioned songs with its unsparing musicality, lively
phrasing, and gusto.
The remainder of the songs features varying blends
of Harmonay’s styles and show across the board creativity that manifests itself
in different ways each time. “In the Morning Light” is one of the album’s most
striking moments thanks to the use of electric guitar. Rather than attacking
the song conventionally, Harmonay uses the instrument for atmosphere and it
gives considerable teeth to one of the album’s more brooding moments. One of the album’s last songs, “Bridges”, is
the most startling example of his skill for re-inventing traditional forms.
There’s a surprising amount of dissonance powering certain passages and the
raw, aggressive sound of the recording is unusual for offerings from this
genre. The eleven tracks on The Blink of an Eye will please purist and
iconoclastic tastes alike. Such all-around talents are rare. Leo Harmonay’s
vocal style will even win you over after, perhaps, some initial hesitation. He
has immense likability, intelligence, and a fantastic command of every musical
style he touches upon. The Blink of an Eye will make any fan of his first album
quite happy and, undoubtedly, win Leo Harmonay many more fans.
9 out of 10 stars.
Scott Wigley
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