Next Stop:Horizon - The Harbour, My Home

Next Stop:Horizon:
The Harbour, My Home:
Tapete Records:
March 31st 2014:

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Gothenburg's soul-influenced pairing of Pär Hagström and Jenny Roos follow up 2011's We Know Exactly Where We're Going with something of a turning point. 2014's The Harbour, My Home suggests an act that has settled into a style of creativity but like all harbours, turbulent waters are never far away. Much of what begins in promising fashion - the opener Something Rare and Something Fine is a bit special - turns out to be too broad a palette to really enjoy.

Still, there are a few game efforts. Rain On Me is lively blue-collar soul and Gonna Get It Back has the David Lynchian chills about it while The Wish prowls around my headphones with intent and lots of handclaps. As for the rest, it's a bit of a muddle audibly although looking at the twosome, I'd imagine Next Stop: Horizon make so much more sense live in concert. There's a hint of the theatre, the circus and the wayward about the Swedes which is a good thing when translated seamlessly and consistently, not so good when it isn't. The Harbour, My Home is about halfway there.