"seems like it's morning on the edge of the world..."
Situated two thirds down in the amber cut of the modest, stunning debut album "half of a rainbow (sic)" by half of a rainbow, the moniker of Berlin based singer-songwriter, musician Johannes Harder, sits "morning on the edge of the world". Maybe more outwardly grand than all the other songs it dips into psychedelic realms and feels like both a departure and sonic partner of all the other imaginings. The first time I wrote about Harder's songs was back in May of 2022 when I wrote about the song "poison in e major" which would end up as track one of his debut album. I ended my thoughts with:
[I am really digging this track, the rapid waltz like cadence, the acoustic chord shapes, the explosive downbeats, the piano drop and Johannes' propelling vocal performance feels dramatically classic, like busker punk / folk indie drawn with 60's / 70's noir tones. half of a rainbow here feels like an artful amalgam of artists like The Kinks, XTC, Man Man, Menomena.]
I wrote about quite a few of the songs that would populate "half of a rainbow (sic)" but never offered a traditional 'album review' and as I peruse the album I wish I had had the time to do so. Album reviews here at AP are rare birds only because in the time that it would take to delve deeply, I could offer / share / give my blessing to a dozen other new artists that should be listened to but, damn, this review is now pulling on my shirt collar. Maybe it will happen.
The fresh, lo-fi, DIY, all ID (maybe improvisational) takes that half of a rainbow conjures up on this album is fucking amazing and inspiring. Besides those other artists I mentioned as faint descriptors I will also say that listening to all these songs that I also thought of an amalgam of Syd Matters (circa 2007), Elliot Smith, The Beatles (later Beatles).
All the songs on "half of a rainbow (sic)" kill me in some way, make me smile or punch me in the stomach. The last song "no moral after pain" might chip away at my soul in the biggest way, at least this morning. I leave it down below to cajole you check out the entire album.
-Robb Donker Curtius
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THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.instagram.com/half.of.a.rainbow/
https://www.halfofarainbow.com/
https://halfofarainbow.bandcamp.com/track/charlotte-in-tokyo
half of a rainbow is the art rock project of the German musician Johannes Harder. In the tradition of home recording legends such as Sebadoh and Guided By Voices, he blends catchy pop melodies with his love for experimentation.
Growing up in the creative hub of Berlin, half of a rainbow records his nostalgic indie songs on cassettes, mostly by himself.
The groove of the 60s comes together with a childlike fascination for simple ideas, and his unique vintage sound can be heard on a series of releases in 2023.
half off a rainbow (sic) debut album is a diy art rock record.
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