Without a Sound Album Review

With the Christmas break just around the corner it is time to organise not only your holiday, but more importantly your summer soundtrack! Wellington is renowned for breeding great musical acts born to entertain us for the summer season. And Harbour City Electric are definitely proving they are one of the finest. The seven-piece contemporary funk-soul group have released Without a Sound, an album full of feel-good zeal. Harbour City Electric are the perfect blend of punchy funk beats, unassailable soul, and breezy jazz. 

The intro to Without a Sound filters through, like flecks of the sunlight breaking through the leaves of a tree. The brass instruments are the tour guides on this trip. The trombone and the trumpet are incandescent throughout the album.

‘One Foot’ exhibits the divine vocals of singer Ned Worboys. He is robust yet tender. His voice is commanding in its precision. ‘One Foot’ produces blissful harmonies in this unhurried, soulful jazz swing. These guys are not in any rush and set a very easing, laid-back pace. ‘Hey Sister’ sits right into the groove and culminates in a beautiful apex towards the end of the track. 

Harbour City are definitely in their element on this album, with songs brimming with funk. ‘’Bout Time’ marks the point where it’s time to get down, let loose and have fun. In ‘Earthship’ and ‘To Give’ the gorgeousness of the guitar is seamed with spunky off-beats. ‘Seek and Destroy’ spawns the most infectious guitar loop and the ghostly overtones in ‘Stoned Masons’ make it a very interesting instrumental piece. The electro-keys of ‘Game Life’ generate a very arcade-game vibe atop the acid funk of the song. ‘D.O.C. (Department of Conversation)’ is all smooth and all soul.

‘Heal Me’ has a beautiful melody that is heart-breaking and heavenly. The song is an odyssey of sound. ‘1st Impressions’ is pure suave. It is a true chill out track and coupled with the title track, ‘Without a Sound,’ makes a fitting outro to the album. The latter is velvet in its conception and slides across the room when it is played. 

This talented group have produced a polished and stunningly collated intersection of the best parts of the funk, soul and jazz genres. Without a Sound is the ideal accessory to the summer sun.

-Janise.