Our final Record of the Month for 2023 is Albion, the highly-anticipated debut LP from Harp.
Harp is the new project from Tim Smith, formerly the singer and principal songwriter of Texan legends Midlake. It has been some thirteen years since the majestic The Courage of Others album (the last one that he wrote and appeared on), but it takes just a few seconds of that evocative voice to go right back there, a proper haze.
I mean guys, we've been waiting patiently on this one for a long time...
2023, year of the harp!
— Drift Records (@driftrecordshop) January 1, 2023
Watch | "I Am The Seed"
Joined by his wife, Kathi Zung, the textures are just lush. Dense layers of synths, whispered wind instruments and waves of phasing guitars that create such massive and mournful moods. Smith's voice really is like no one else, so sad and swooning with such gravitas.
Watch | "A Fountain"There is a really enthralling timelessness about it. On the one hand it is as indebted to weird folk hues as anything he has written, but there is also such a strong, reverbing, goth pop quality to it, (Smith has pointed The Cure's Faith as a huge influence) almost like folk music through the Twin Peaks lens. Sad, a little morose, but so addictive and it’s just an album that changes subtly each time you play it. Well worth the wait.
"the permanently drizzly soundscapes bloom into a natural match to the fathomless melancholy at the core of Albion." - Loud & Quiet.
Albion is the twelfth release of 2023 for those of you signed up to the Drift Record of the Month Club.
Available in three, six or twelve month configurations, you can join the Drift Record of the Month Club and start adding to your amazing collection. Each month you will receive one new album on either vinyl or CD, based on your subscription type. The first delivery (whether CD or LP) will also include a complimentary Drift tote bag.
Find out more here.
Recent 'Record of the Month' albums at Drift have included; Hotline TNT, Black Pumas, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Georgia, Cory Hanson, Overmono, North Americans, H. Hawkline, Yo La Tengo, The Murder Capital, Goat Girl, Black Country, New Road, Jane Weaver, Dry Cleaning, Squid, White Flowers, Stephen Fretwell, Chubby and the Gang, Low, BADBADNOTGOOD, Damon Albarn, Geese, Silverbacks, Cate Le Bon, Huerco S., Daniel Rossen, Kevin Morby, Vintage Crop, Viagra Boys, The Lounge Society, Jockstrap, Trevor Beales, Aoife Nessa Frances and Sarathy Korwar.