Short Reviews [Harpo Jarvi - 2022 - "Babushka Noir"]

As any musician will tell you, it is always difficult to get the publicity required to turn their passion into more than just a hobby, and even more so when it comes to playing music in a genre still generally disregarded by the mass media. Then, if their band is unable to be noticed by the “right” people they cannot even get noticed within that community, which brings us to Harpo Jarvi. I loved their 2021 album, ‘Abuelo Blanc’, but on ProgArchives it has been reviewed by just two people (I am one of them), and here I am getting to their third more than six months since it was released and no-one else has written about it at all. That has nothing to do whatsoever with the music on offer from this St. Louis, Missouri, based trio but more about there being just so much music out there that at times gems like this fall by the wayside, so let’s see if I can encourage anyone to investigate this offering (available through Bandcamp). The trio are still Dan Ilges (drums), Nick Johnson (bass, guitar, synth) and Jim Miles (vocals, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3 organ, synth, alto sax, flute), although this time they have also brought in a guest saxophonist in Dan Johnson who plays on one song. They are not a traditional progressive band (surely that is a dichotomy in itself) but bring in influences instead from wherever they wish, so while there are Eastern influences on “Breeders” there is also dance, and electronic, jazz, rock, fusion and so much more. However, all these styles are blended in such a way they make total sense and instead of being at odds with each other, instead they are allowing each element to shine even brighter due to the contrast being provided, while there is also distinct layering, so everything is clear, distinct, and never muddied. As I said last time, all three are wonderful musicians, all playing roles which keep the arrangements balanced and allows everyone the space they need to shine without ever allowing the light to shine on them too brightly as individuals. This is complex yet balanced music, which is inviting, allowing the listener to easily enter their world and when inside discover there is even more to uncover than they initially realised. It is the offset of each of the instruments as they allow the main melodies to be developed which really are at the heart of this. In many ways this feels very English, as there is no doubt, they have been paying close attention to the likes of Egg and Hatfield & The North, as they also bring in psychedelic elements to their jazzy fusion progressive style. The use of particular keyboard sounds does evoke feelings of the Seventies, but with a fresh and modern approach, the end result being yet another wonderful album from an underground prog band who are clearly deserving of far greater attention.