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Dave Hause – Blood Harmony
Blood Harmony Records – Release Date: 10/22/21
Last month, Dave Hause released his fifth full-length, titled Blood Harmony. Hause continues to evolve as a songwriter and the musical synergy that he shares with his brother Tim, who plays guitar, piano and provides backing vocals, has further solidified. These factors, coupled with the stellar production from Will Hoge, assist in making this the most focused album that Hause has crafted to date. The opening track, “Northstar,” enjoys a strong folk influence and thematically speaking, really sets the stage for the rest of the record. Its lyrics talk of Hause finding direction in life with his wife and twin sons, (“I’m an old ocean liner / It takes everything to make a simple turn. For an old timer / You taught me I still got so much to learn”). On the surface, the song is rather simple, but it’s beautifully and meticulously executed.
“Sandy Sheets” is arguably the most accessible song that Hause has ever written and it somehow doesn’t lose its appeal even after dozens of listens. It speaks of young love and simpler times, and that’s certainly easy to reminisce about given the current state of the world. As an added bonus, the lyrics also include playful nods to Gin Blossoms, The Cure, and The Bouncing Souls. “Plagiarist” opens with a classic rock ‘n’ roll riff and is suggestive of early Tom Petty. It also features nimble and perfectly-placed drum fills, courtesy of Chris Powell, which really propel the song. It concludes with Hause letting loose in the outro, with his vocals recalling his days as the frontman for The Loved Ones.
“Carry the Lantern” is a moody entry with a stomping rhythm and understated piano accents. It boasts a monster chorus and its lyrics offer a message of hope. It deals with heading into the unknown, but remaining unafraid to face whatever might await. Near the end, the song swells to a choir of backing vocals before coming back around for one last run through the massive hook. The album draws to a close with “Little Wings,” which is similar in tone with the first song and a nice way to bookend the record. Its words represent Hause talking to his sons and addressing how he hopes to raise them. The keyboard provides a touching melody for this deeply personal song, as the album’s theme comes full circle.
Blood Harmony retains somewhat of a timeless feel, in part due to its classic rock ‘n’ roll influences, but also because of the level of detail in both the arrangements and the recording. It’s undoubtedly Hause’s most complete album yet and should be well-received by most any fan of rock music.
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