With Lies Like This

Self proclaimed ‘vampire of the 21st century’ Ed Harcourt brings forth his newest immortal installment with The Beautiful Lie. This consummate singer-songwriter from Sussex (U.K.) delves deeper into his grab bag of musical gifts leaving an indelible mark for new fans to ponder and old ones to admire. Continuing the British piano-rock movement, Harcourt brings superior storytelling and substance to the genre, delivering him to the pole position amidst a competitive field of worthy opponents, reminiscent of Magnet and Badly Drawn Boy. This Trent Reznor of piano indie-pop has again delivered another dark memorial to his musical abilities and songwriting prowess.

The Beautiful Lie leads off with the odd, ‘Whirlwind In D Minor’ a tune so dissimilar from the rest of the album it presents itself as an unsolved mystery. Lie is an irregularly arranged romp plagued with unpredictability. However, stable hymns like ‘The Last Cigarette’ makes the inconsistency of record enjoyable. Bluesy and elegant at times, Harcourt’s love for music is lost in a parade of multiple instruments and style changes leaving the listener scattered and confused but strangely satisfied. The silky ‘I Am The Drunk’ has a seductive and smooth rhythm resembling the stumbling swagger of a functioning alcoholic. The beauty in this collection lies within the haunting, simple and well-arranged lullabies ‘The Pristine Claw’, ‘Braille’ and ‘Good Friends Are Hard to Find’ are the most relevant and honest tracks complimenting Harcourt’s niche. The prominent antagonistic theme in Lie is survived by a dysfunctional relationship between storytelling and his musically manic-depressive but meritorious vocal command.

The Beautiful Lie is comprised of solid, dramatic, emotionally charged and contemporarily relevant lyrics liable to impress the snottiest music snob. Although, the sporadic nature of this offering leaves little to be desired, Harcourt’s latest is sure to have a track on an i-pod playlist entitled: Coffee House Jams For Secret Malcontents. The Beautiful Lie, will bring musical “truthiness” to the nearest independent café or alternative bookstore in the immediate future.

John Niederkorn