"The clothes that we share are the chains that have stopped me / I was sharpening knives in the hope that you caught me..."
The illustrious, artful sonic divining rod of "Chemistry Class" by half of a rainbow, the indie rock project of German singer-songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Johannes Thomas Harder (and collaborators), is a stirring beautiful hybrid indie fusion of many styles but if I were to choose one genre to conceptualize the over-sound, I think art rock works for me. This stunner, in well less than 3 minutes made me think of Elliot Smith melodic leans, a much younger James Bond (tonal shifts that might interpolate elements of the iconic Monty Norman theme from 1962), 90's Radiohead ravaging guitar downbeats (that they never wrote- 'wink') and more. This is not to say that there are any rip offs going here but instead a mindmeld with musical, cultural touchstones emboldened by Harder's gorgeous vocal lilt that I love so much. His vocal countenance embodies the melancholy and hope of youth holding hands.
"Chemistry Class" is (for me) a wonderful art rock mini-opera complete with a 16mm projector casting speckled magic against the wall.
Credits:
Produced by Sasha Bowers.
Guest musicians:
Sasha Bowers - Electric & acoustic guitars
Mathilda Adamik - Violin
Olivia Baldi - Cello
Marc Nordhausen - Drums
Kabir Bhattacharya - Electric bass
Lyrics:
The clothes that we share are the chains that have stopped me
I was sharpening knives in the hope that you caught me
This place is killing me
Late for chemistry class
Nothing will last
I danced and pretended that I didn't know you
I do all the dishes, I do want to hold you
The heat is killing me
Leave no shattering glass
I won't let it pass
The clothes that we wear smell their own obsolescence
I'll wait for tomorrow for nothing has happened
Your face is killing me
Take a step back or two
You don't sound like you
This rage is filling me
Take me back to the nights
I didn't think twice
Nothing survives
(Wake up)
I was sharpening knives in the hope that you caught me
This place is killing me
Late for chemistry class
Nothing will last
I danced and pretended that I didn't know you
I do all the dishes, I do want to hold you
The heat is killing me
Leave no shattering glass
I won't let it pass
The clothes that we wear smell their own obsolescence
I'll wait for tomorrow for nothing has happened
Your face is killing me
Take a step back or two
You don't sound like you
This rage is filling me
Take me back to the nights
I didn't think twice
Nothing survives
(Wake up)
-Robb Donker Curtius
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 indie rock project of German musician Johannes Harder, a Berlin native whose music blends lo-fi charm with heartfelt songwriting. Rooted in the tradition of DIY recording, Harder draws inspiration from home-recording legends like Guided By Voices and the intimate melancholy of Elliott Smith, while embracing a deep love for experimentation.
Growing up in Berlin's vibrant creative scene, Harder found his voice in a mix of quieter, introspective songs and eclectic outbursts of heavy electric guitars. Much of his music is recorded on cassette, a choice that embraces the analog warmth and imperfections of tape recording, giving his tracks a dreamlike, almost fragile quality—like snapshots frozen in time.
Incorporating visual artist and long-time collaborator Myra Anmeskog in his live shows, Harder blurs the lines between music and visual art, creating a multifaceted experience. Supporting the release of his 2024 EP Saw You In A Dream, Harder launched The Dream Archives, a website where he collected diary entries of his dreams and audio recordings of himself falling asleep. The project also includes a booklet with surrealist hand-drawn illustrations by Amneskog, an attempt to visually capture the dreamlike essence of the EP.
half of a rainbow’s latest album, Live at Loophole!, encapsulates the raw atmosphere of his full-band shows in Berlin’s underground scene. Ranging from early 2000s indie pop influences to explosive alternative punk pieces, the album showcases Harder’s untamed energy on stage. with a childlike fascination for simple ideas.
half of a rainbow, "Live at Loophole!" album, whimsy, ID rock, art rock, alt pop, Berlin Germany, singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, "Chemistry Class", orchestral pop, emo, bedroom pop, post punk, art rock
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