Kid Harpoon - Once

Debut albums can go a number of ways. An artist can reel off some songs in the first wind of success, get them mixed, then ship them off. Or, the artist in question can hold back and create something they think will last. After all, their record deal might not. This might be their only chance to work with, say, Trevor Horn.

Kid Harpoon did the latter, and after ditching his first attempt (nine songs in), got to work making the record he wanted to. The trouble is, he should’ve just reeled off some songs.

With re-recording his album, he lost the spontaneity and energy that made his early releases great. Practice doesn’t make perfect, not much in music anyway. He meant well, and attempted something in a bold move to be true to himself, but overproduction and over-thinking muddied it up.

We’re not going to name check any songs. They just drift by, in a crowd, afraid of confrontation. They don’t want to challenge, they just want to please everyone and be accessible. This won’t bode well with fans of his early stuff. You’ll want to like it, but Trevor Horn’s production smothers whatever spark it may have had.

Kid Harpoon is a dish best served hot, without famous producers.