Howard Herrick proves to be a musical chameleon with the stylistic journey that is his self-titled debut. Featuring a wide range of influences ranging all the way from Hercules & the Love Affair to Fleet Foxes, he proves to have the chops necessary to pull off such a feat. Emotionally rich every song tells its own unique story. With a background in soundtracks and theater, it is unsurprising that these pieces have a great resonance to them while they unfurl at their own unique pace. Over the course of the album Howard Herrick incorporates virtually every genre, from a bouncing take on dance music to a soulful, bluesy kind of folk music.
The poetic music is further helped by a highly involved approach to creating such vivid, compelling narratives. Highly visceral at times, by drawing from a life lived to the absolute fullest Howard Herrick offers a bit of reflection. Relationships, the struggles that the world inevitably brings, and the undeniable desire to perfect oneself appear throughout the entirety of the album. In a way these songs feel intricately woven together, every piece yet a chapter in a greater tale. Usage of the multi-faceted, genre-jumping and morphing approach further adds additional depth to the entire experience.
A light, bright introduction to the album comes with the blissful “Hold My Hand”. Exploring togetherness, the luxuriousness of the track stuns. Lush chords merge dance, electro, and pop into a satisfying whole. Rising above it all are the hopeful lyrics that make it one of the album highlights. Veering into a completely different tact is the Tom Waits style of ‘Show Me That One Again” where the vocals have a world-worn quality to them. Nostalgia reigns supreme over the piece as it swirls about. Stately guitar gestures emerge off of the intimate “If I Fall Off That Next Step”.
On “Is Love Enough” a ballad emerges. A nod to classic rock with just the right hint of the psychedelic, “Is Love Enough” blooms in a fantastic display of color. Quite spacious “New Heart” has a loveliness to it while the song evolves and expands in unexpectedly wonderful ways. The balance between the electronic and the organic feels particularly powerful. Effortlessly bringing the entire album to a close is the spacey musings of “Sad Plant” where the distorted vocals offer a sense of otherworldliness.
With his self-titled debut, Howard Herrick builds upon a literal lifetime of devotion to the arts and the results speak for themselves.
