By Kevin Bergin, Rock At Night Melbourne, AU
Review: Harkness’ singles “ID,” “Defibrillator”, and “Lure of the Pollen” – Released Fall 2020
Rock At Night listened to some of the tracks of Harkness’ upcoming album The Occasion. Harkness sounds pleasingly like a cross between surf tunes (I won’t say Beach Boys, it just dates me) and psychedelic rock, which puts it in the “experimental” genre. The lyrics reinforce this, seeming like dark poetry at first listen, but then realising its more about reality and possibilities.
Harkness says of “Defibrillator”, “Well, looking all around us today it appears as if the shit is truly hitting the fan. There’s so much inequality, division and pain, so many people seem to be struggling. It’s almost as if the World is having a heart attack right before our eyes. Maybe the whole planet could use a Defibrillator. I hear it as a statement of hope and love the vocals and instruments.”
“I.D” has such a laid back easy bassline while the lyrics tell of a society identified with what we see and hear and suggests a robotic life. The chorus suggests we do something completely different, like “take a drive through the countryside…”
“Lure of the Pollen” is clearly a love song, but one with gentle and complex lyrics. The harmonies are superb.
Harkness said about it in a previous interview, ‘The song was born after a chance meeting with a stranger on a bus, email addresses were exchanged and soon after magical moments bloomed. As I was riding my bike to meet her on that first date, a butterfly flew towards me and I instinctively reached out and caught it while still pedaling. When I finally reached her, and we came together to meet, I released the butterfly between us, as we said ‘hello’. You can guess at how the rest of the day went…“
Most of the instruments are played by Harkness, the lyrics are written by him, and the album is produced by him as well. Harkness is truly a one-man-show. How can Harkness be described? Innovative, poetic, experimental and unapologetic in his creativity. Check him out!
VIDEOS
Defibrillator
I.D.
Lure of the Pollen
CHECK OUT an upcoming documentary about Harkness
It seems all we did as teenagers was travel around listening to bands in pubs, clubs, stadiums and festivals, some with over a million peaceful people there. Of course there was also the presence of many strange substances.
I grew up on the South Coast of England and my ancestry is Irish, so there was a lot of music and singing around. My brother Paddy became involved in the music industry as a photographer as did many of my childhood friends. Bands like the Who and the Floyd I saw so many times. Not enough room here to put all the bands I saw over the years but name me a band from the 60’s and early 70’s and chances are I saw them.
Music saved my life. Encouraged by my brother Paddy I started taking photos in the late 70’s and am still taking them today at the tender age of sixty nine.
My daughter is an accomplished musician, playing many instruments and singing. So, perhaps I passed on my passion for music.
You will find me somewhere in Australia, probably Melbourne, at the back side or front of stage in a club, pub or stadium behind a camera for Rock At Night and loving it.
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