I was first introduced to Harriet's music back in about 2015 when I caught a song on the radio which I thought was a new Carpenters song. It was called Christmas Time Is Here. Karen Carpenter is my favourite all time female vocalist and I couldn't believe that there was another singer around that could sing like her. But here was one. And by God, she was like her. Now, it's a somewhat pleasurable burden, I imagine, that Harriet carries with her wherever she goes or releases new music. She's heard it a million times before and she'll probably keep hearing it as more and more people discover her wonderful voice for themselves. There were a definitely people in the audience tonight who had come along, intrigued by the comparison and had come to hear Harriet for themselves. How do I know that, because I asked them, I wanted to know what brought them out on a truly awful Welsh Friday night to Acapela Studios to hear this lady sing.
I saw Harriet live, at the same venue back in 2017. You can read my review below.
So I was delighted when I saw that Harriet was heading back to Acapela this year. I would have expected her to move onto larger venues but she's kept faith with the venue which gave her such a warm welcome 2 years ago and when I saw the set up for this show I began to understand why. This time, instead of a 6 piece band she came along with just 2 musicians, Scott on Piano and Will on Acoustic Guitar. I have seen some great nights from raucous uptempo bands to Jazz in The Chapel but if Acapela was made for a certain type of gig, it's one like this. Purely acoustic with the minimal of backing and that fantastic voice, laid bare in all it's beautiful glory. On nights like this, the Acapela just magically lights up - and the audience is SO attentive, you could hear a pin drop. And I'm not joking here or being flippant. It's true. Every word.
From the first song, First and Last, to the final encore of S Club 7's Reach - the audience is under Harriet's spell. Tonight, there was a lot more interaction between Harriet and the Audience as she embraced the intimacy of the venue and the occasion and was much more of herself and not the new performer of the first time I saw her back in 2017. She has certainly grown in confidence and vocal power and control and now sounds less like Ms Carpenter and is singing now in her own unique vocal style.
First and Last
Early on in the show Harriet seemingly apologises for the delay in album #3. She has been collaborating in Sweden with some other songwriters - with some of the songs being introduced into the set tonight. They are another step forward into the career of this delicious vocalist and songwriter and were more uptempo than the ballad heavy feel of her debut album. You can't stop the Lady from moving forward. And trust me, if all the songs are this good then you wouldn't want to. It was quite a thrill to hear these new songs more or less as they were written and undoubtedly destined to acquire a polished sheen and production when they finally see the light of day.
As well as her debut album, Harriet has released an album of cover versions and an EP of Universal Film Song covers - oh, a Christmas Album too. The beauty of selecting various covers for tonight's performance was a chance to hear them deconstructed and given these new treatments it breathed a new new life into some of the older songs.
Take On Me
The nearest artist I can think of to compare Harriet with today is the obvious one, Rumer. Both have beautiful voices, both songwriters in their own right and both the splendid ability to choose a unusual song to cover and make their own.
Harriet explains tonight that many of the covers that she chooses are influenced by her parents record collections which she heard as she was growing up. And by the covers she chooses tonight, I reckon they are about the same age as myself.
As well as the splendid A HA cover of Take On Me she also pulls a jewel out of the bag with Gilbert O'Sullivan's Alone Again, Naturally.
Alone Again, Naturally
But she didn't neglect her own songs, many of a reflective nature, which obviously suits her voice.
Afterglow
What's Mine Is Yours
One of the best songs of more recent years was the brilliant You Get What You Give by songwriter Gregg Alexander aka The New Radicals. When I saw she had recorded this I thought it might have been her first misstep. How wrong I was. It still keeps the ebullient nature of the nature with a smoother sound and Harriet's multitracked harmonies to the fore. Fabulous stuff, even in this stripped down version tonight.
You Get What You Give
There had already been several highlights in tonight's performance but the Highlight for me came later in the show where once again Harriet raids her parents' record collection to dig out a cover of David Gates (from the the band Bread) solo song Clouds, from his nine minute song suite. It sent shivers down my spine and had me rushing for David's 1978 album Goodbye Girl to give it a spin :) Absolutely beautiful. And Harriet, if you get to read this, RECORD IT!!!
David Gates - Clouds
Permission To Kiss is another Harriet uptempo number which slips perfectly into the new format and has everyone clapping along.
After a perfect evening of music, Harriet encourages some audience participation in the form of some singing backing vocals to the closer, The Story Of Your Life.
The Story Of Your Life
But the audience wanted more and Harriet wasn't about to disappoint an entranced Welsh audience so she left us on a high with her version of S Club 7's Reach (for the stars).which had everyone clapping and singing along. A perfect closer.
Reach
It was a splendid performance and it was great to see Harriet back at Acapela which in this format suits her voice even better. The new material is strong and bodes well for the next album. I just hopes the bigger she gets that she doesn't neglect my favourite small Welsh venue that love and appreciate great music and performances. Tonight had both.
Twitter - @HarrietsMusic
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