Jeremy Harry Harris, the voice of Perth Rock band ‘Stone Circle’ is back after a lengthy absence with an album that you can feel the love coming off of it. It’s 14 tracks of music that includes 6 written by Stone Circle and 4 by Harris and Reinier Martínez Rodríguez, who also provides guitars, bass and keyboards.
If you’re interested in the Stone Circle tracks, which I imagine local fans will be Harry says in his notes “For over 7 years I had the pleasure to write, record, tour and perform with Stone Circle. During this time many songs were written and recorded at live shows throughout the world but sadly never committed to a 3rd studio album. It is with the greatest respect to them and with the utmost privilege, that I have been able to bring these tracks to life on this very album.”
But we will get to that as I’m sure your next question will be – well what about the other 8 tracks here? Bearing in mind the time Harry spent in Cuba post Stone Circle – will it be all Latin rhythms and decidedly exotic?
Opener ‘Breathe’ seems to signal ‘no’ – it’s a light, airy rocker, clean and lean sounding with Harry’s distinctive voice and lyric taking centre-stage on a bed of very accomplished musicianship (love that extended solo). ‘Sister’ that follows is more forceful, a real sizzling rocker with a nice bit of attitude and the first of the unrecorded Stone Circle tracks here.
Title-track ‘Kings of Time’ is a song that I think I may have heard live at a past Stone Circle gig, and one that is all that fans will have loved about that band, a mini-epic that they used to do so well, it’s almost Queen or Uriah Heep-like in scope and just as uplifting as I remember. Its a great song, and one that will grab Stone Circle fans at first listen and hopefully bring back some great memories.
It’s followed by the two Harris’ sole solo compositions ‘See You See Me’ and ‘Go & Fly’ which sit comfortably mid-album. The former has a seventies sheen in its simplicity but a Foos-like flavour, and lifts the mood nicely making you think of blue skies and taking on the world; and the latter has a similar disposition and even a hint of Southern Rock about it. They’re actually two of my favourites here and even though lighter than most of the tracks here both leave an impression.
A newer composition “Get Back Up’ follows and adds some almost ‘pop-nu-punk’ swing, whilst another two Stone Circle songs I have heard before: ‘Sold Me Out’ and ‘Skeletons’ add funk and groove, and the former a has a message of moving forward as well as one of the most infectious refrains here. And the winning cuts come thick and fast – ‘Break Your Heart’ adds a cautionary tale of falling for a musician before one of the key moments here ‘Northern Lights’ appears on the horizon. It’s a robust rocker that settles into a nice groove and reminds you of how much great material Stone Circle had for that third album that never came. It’s huge.
The remainder of the album is just as solid. ‘When The Walls Come Down’ has a great chorus and the final old Stone Circle track ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’ rides that comfortingly familiar groove with a tale of leaving for new horizons.
‘Nothing Without You’ adds some really melodic swagger, nice wailing guitar and one of Harry’s best vocals – it’s one of the best here. ‘Find My Way Home’ is even breezier, almost pop rock, and it works, it just works! A special extended version of ‘Northern Lights’ closes and just adds to the song.
A lot of people familiar with Harry’s past work are going to love this, and anyone new will surely be hoping that this is more than just a tying up of loose ends because this kind of assured hard rocking release really is something special.
The album can be found for purchase at www.jeremyharryharris.com.au
Musicians: Vocals – Jeremy Harry Harris | Guitars, Bass & Keyboards – Reinier Martínez Rodríguez | Guitars – Fabian Rodríguez | Bass – Alex Jorge (Mole) | Drums – Castillo Lopez Gonzalez | Keyboards – Rocio Carballoza Martinez | Additional Bass & Sound FX’s – Peter Renzullo | Additional Keyboards & Backing Vocals – Craig Skelton
Tracklisting: 1. Breathe | 2. Sister | 3. Kings Of Time | 4. See You See Me | 5. Go & Fly | 6. Get Back Up | 7. Sold Me Out | 8. Skeletons | 9. Break Your Heart | 10. Northern Lights | 11. When The Walls Come Down | 12. Tomorrow Never Comes | 13. Nothing Without You | 14. Find My Way Home | Special Bonus Track. Northern Lights Extended Intro Version
