CHRIS HARFORD & THE BAND OF CHANGES
Wake (Soul Selects Records)
Reviewed by David J. Klug

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Chris Harford's critically acclaimed but commercially disappointing major label debut apparently left him inspired-rolling with the punches and self-releasing one dynamic record after another. With Be Headed in 1992, Harford blended acoustic rock, guitar noise, and a lick of country edge with his delicate vocal delivery, and the result was beautiful pop music. Wake is Harford's fourth record, after the superb Comet and the ambitious and excellent 2CD set titled Band of Changes. Harford's band, Band of Changes, has included Richard Thompson, Kevin Salem, David Mansfield, Howie Wyeth, Deaner and Gener Ween, The Proclaimers, and Loudon Wainwright III to name a few.

Harford's collaborations can be complex, but individually are never too busy or abstract. On each record he displays his penchant for ethereal pop and acoustic styling, and he also dabbles in noise and psychedelia. Wake's production team of Marshall Stax and Adam Lasus is particularly sensitive to this, as Harford's loudest songs never get buried in the mix. This is a passionate collection of near perfect pop rock highlighted by "Joe Strummer's Midnight Dream," "Hold Me," "Love Is Lies," and "Leaving Anyway." Harford's a first-rate singer/songwriter and takes rock near to where Matthew Sweet does-though Harford's been arguably more creative in the long run. He wrote all tracks on Wake except "Ride With Me," penned by Evan Dando (The Lemonheads) and presented with lovely pedal steel by Mansfield. Wake brims with assorted sounds from distorted guitars, acoustic guitars, violin, fiddle, and keyboards. Moog and organs spice the record, while Jane Scarpantoni's cello playing adds considerable depth. It's another fine artistic step forward, while his best is yet to come.

© 2000 - David J. Klug