A debut solo album from ‘The Harpoonist’ showcases a lighter, witty side of blues music that is as entertaining as it is musically creative.

Release Date: 8th November 2024

Label: Tonic Records

Format: CD

Having shed his former accomplice The Axe Murderer, Shawn Hall ( who draws his performing name from a line in The Ballad of Bobby Magee by fellow Canadian Gordon Lightfoot) has released his debut solo album with a unique and eclectic collection of uplifting music.

capturing the humour

An unusually slow starter as a choice for an opening track, Good People sustains interest with the floating keyboards which drift through the whole song but provide the foundation for a plethora of varying sounds. High pitched soulful vocals, smooth harmonica fills, spacey vocal refrain, a line lifted from a rock n roll standard and a soulful cry of “get it together y’all!” are all blended together as the question in the album title is posed along with “or are we here to die?” Is this a challenge or a query?

“I think it captures my sense of humour a lot more, often with really absurd imagery, so it breathes truer to my personality than my previous incarnation,” he says. ” There is also a heavy attention to groove, and off the wall hooks while never losing touch with the pulse. Making sense of these musical influences is my harp playing threading a sort of narrative.’

I May Not Have It Together is a funky romp and is a lyrical extension from a line in Good People, with bags of soul and an infectious beat. If this doesn’t get you in the dancing groove then Lullaby Of Life will. Probably as far removed from a lullaby as you can get, this uplifting tune has the aim of merging hip hop, synthesised bass and intermittent harmonica all combined to create a stomping good song.

never standing still

He goes into gospel territory on Show Me The Green, with solid grooves then adds another complete contrast with the jazzy saxophone highlighting Yusaf Lateef, a tribute to the jazz legend, blending some Latin rhythms too. An alcohol influenced The Scrapper gives us more funky blues which shows he can keep his music lively yet light. No bish bash bosh needed from Shawn to stir you musically. A reggae styled Trucker Speed completes this fascinating album. Rich in its variety of rhythms, entertaining lyrics tell the story of a trucker who dedicates his life to travelling after losing a love interest.

He says his music on this album is “joyful, and one that showcases ‘ version of me that’s always existed but just not quite captured on record before.” It is hard to disagree with this reflection on his own eclectic music as it oozes a sense of fun throughout. The quick turnover of the recording process at Gordie Johnson’s ranch in Austin, Texas seems to have been as joyful as the result.

Here’s Good People:

The Harpoonist online: Facebook / X-Twitter / Instagram / Youtube

Keep up with At The Barrier: Facebook / X (formerly Twitter) / Instagram / Spotify / YouTube