Stephen Harrison writing new songs, February, 2019, Edinburgh
'Pen To Paper In the Morning" Stephen Harrison - December 2018.
Stephen Harrison 'The Pale Blue Moonlight' - A singe song released on 1st December 2018 and available from many of the digital retailers for streaming or purchase.
Stephen Harrison 'It Starts With The Soul' - Album cover. 2018
Stephen Harrison 'It Starts With The Soul'
Stephen Harrison's new album -
'It Starts With The Soul'
Release date : 26th March 2018
Available to buy in CD format here via the 'shop' page
Available to stream on Spotify (see link at foot of ths page)
Available to download from many of the digital retailers
Stephen Harrison 'It Starts With The Soul'
A REVIEW OF 'IT STARTS WITH THE SOUL' PUBLISHED 2ND DECEMBER 2018 IN FOLKWORLD
'From one of my favorite places on the planet, Edinburgh, comes the latest LP from fine folk singer-songwriter, Stephen Harrison. I am no expert in accents, but he was born in London and perhaps has a more worldly voice as a result. Or maybe it is other-worldly, as he is so soft and quiet here, that it opens a world of mystery in every line. The overall tone is so quiet that the delicately picked solo acoustic guitar sound like piercing Goblin shrieks (the band or the beast, your call). Well I exaggerate, but this fascinating approach shows the value of quieting things down for more dramatic intensity. This one is for Leonard Cohen fans and anyone else who likes it deep and still.' David Hintz, Folkworld.
Click here to read at source
'From one of my favorite places on the planet, Edinburgh, comes the latest LP from fine folk singer-songwriter, Stephen Harrison. I am no expert in accents, but he was born in London and perhaps has a more worldly voice as a result. Or maybe it is other-worldly, as he is so soft and quiet here, that it opens a world of mystery in every line. The overall tone is so quiet that the delicately picked solo acoustic guitar sound like piercing Goblin shrieks (the band or the beast, your call). Well I exaggerate, but this fascinating approach shows the value of quieting things down for more dramatic intensity. This one is for Leonard Cohen fans and anyone else who likes it deep and still.' David Hintz, Folkworld.
Click here to read at source
From a review by Liverpool Sound and Vision of 'It Starts With The Soul' published on 1st June 2018 -
'Expression is everything, it is how you conduct the feeling into one of memory that is the key, and in songs such as Trains, Iago’s Light, the sensational The Middle of the Morning, which has the depth of character you would expect only a band like The Moody Blues to harness, Show The Summer To The Spring and The Radio of Love, Stephen Harrison breaks the ground of indifference that some espouse and allows the bravery of love to step forth into the light and be seen as ground-breaking, as distinctive and forthright.
Click here to read the full review at source.
From a review by Folking.com of 'It Starts With The Soul' published in May 2018 :
'It’s an intimate collection of songs, with often rather enigmatic and downbeat lyrics accompanied – occasionally counterpointed – with Harrison’s lyrically picked guitar style. The title track opening with the bleak, “By the way there’s a weight hanging down on my soul” is set against a gentle guitar that evokes wide open skies. Repeated sung phrases reinforce the highly stylised nature of the piece.' - '‘The Middle Of The Morning’ will strike a chord with any poor sleeper/early riser struggling to get their ideas down, get their best work done before real life comes in to weigh down on them.
Click here to read the full review at source.
STEPHEN HARRISON'S PREVIOUS ALBUM OF SONGS CALLED 'CHERRY FAIR' - WAS RELEASED IN 2016.
From a review of 'Cherry Fair' :
'He has a nice guitar style that has an eerie structure to it at times, but eventually finds interesting patterns and melodies. His voice is deep, a touch weathered with a light touch and carries the melody along. This should resonate with Folkworld readers, especially those who enjoy highly personal direct folk music. David Hintz (Folkworld)'
Click here to read at source
Stephen Harrison - musician song writer singer 'CHERRY FAIR'
Please be aware that some internet retailers also stock albums by other Stephen Harrisons. Due to the nature of the digital retailers systems, the identities of artists with the same name are merged. Best to search by album title as well as artist name. See discography to clarify.
Stephen Harrison is a singer and songwriter and painter living in Scotland.
In his song writing he seeks strong haunting melodies. Lyrics concerning the personal and the universal are arrived at in harmony with the melody and delivered with clarity and yet they seem enigmatic in places too. The harmony and enigma is felt to be more important than a desire for a 'what's it about' meaning. Song structures and arrangements grow and develop in line with what feels right for each song, rather than following the usual verse/chorus/middle eight formula.
Re: 'Today Tomorrow - Remastered'. (released in 2013)
Songs 'like postcards from an earlier, purer, more positive time' - 'There are some terrific songs on here, notably the title track and the genuinely haunting closer, Nobody There. - Alan Morrison - The Sunday Herald. Click here to read at source (last three paragraphs)
'Very Impressive' - Iain Anderson - BBC Radio Scotland
'highly individual work' - David Hintz - Folk World #52 11/2013
'Sharp songwriting skill, deft guitar playing, and smooth voice'.
For paintings by Stephen Howard Harrison click here