Leo Harmonay “Somewhere Over the Hudson”
Official URL: https://www.lharmonic.com/music/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leo.harmonay
About the Artist: Leo Harmonay just released his latest effort entitled “Somewhere Over the Hudson”. Right from the beginning track “Colors” his intimate sound is rooted in Folk-Pop rock and colored by his own powerful observations about life in general. Today, the theme of ‘roads less traveled’ remains firmly ensconced in his life. The blue highways of America still call; there are so many more to see and experience. And more songs to write about them…stories of hope, survival, love, discovery, loss, crazy situations, of making peace with life and with simply being alive – this is how I was the album.
Review: “Somewhere Over the Hudson” though far from a self-indulgent ego trip, rather a moving and elegiac artistic statement from start to finish. This is not your overly predictable Ramen Noodle Pop Artist. Instead Harmonay delivers a highly original musical staple and could even be classed as a 4 genre artist: Folk, Blues, Rock, Classic Americana. Harmonay has way too much precision and clarity to live in the shadows of overly-predictable Pop. Indeed this is clearly evident in songs like “We Are Two”, “Rocks at Your Feet” and “This Train” which methodically ups the ante to a very respectable level of catchy musical expression and craftsmanship that transcends pigeonholing. The music is also commercially viable with a fresh sound and an entertaining vibe that holds the attention span of the listener perfectly. In a nutshell this is Ian Britt meets Craig Cardiff. Other notable comparables include: Leonard Cohen, Brett Bixby, Jesse Cole and Saturday Sun to Billy Joel. The 10 song line-up comes fully loaded and appeals to many listeners with a wide variety of musical styles.
Criticism: I’m not a fan of the cover art – certainly not compatible to Singer-Songwriter style or approach.
Overall I find this artist quite amazing with a huge amount of potential. Bottom Line: I would imagine in time we will hear more from this artist via Movies, Film and TV Productions. No doubt Leo Harmonay has carved a marketable niche for himself thus far setting himself up for marketable success over the years to come via his music and production DIY know how. I would not be surprised to hear his music featured one day on some Feature Film or TV Show. But for now I can honestly say this is one artist that clearly gives you a musical snapshot that is highly original, unique and dare I say brilliant in its delivery.
Final Score: 7.5/10
Lydia Peeling
