Nai Harvest 'Feeling Better' Review.

I’ve had the privilege of listening to Nai Harvest’s Feeling Better for the past few weeks as I bullied Ben Thompson into sending me it early, and it paid off. It is hands down some of the best material they have ever produced, not just by composition, but the production is to a standard that helps shine the boys on as a duo. It sounds like it’s been produced to tailor to their duet sound, as their previous records made room for bass lines, this one does not (as they no longer have a bassist). This gives the record a lighter sound making it a fantastic summer 7”, to accompany the fine weather that has graced the UK over the past week or so.

The first track, The Bikes & The Basement, starts the vibe of the record off perfectly, with a light noodley riff accompanied by a tight, eccentric drum fill, the duo’s trademark. It then launches into a more stable rhythmic sound to calm the listeners and prepare them for the perfectly off pitch shouting’s of the first verse. The song, despite its upbeat tempo and seemingly major key signature, still holds true to the emo vibe, about missing things, people and general flaws. I Might Have too... sounds like it was written closely with TB&TB, as the song’s lyrics both hold very similar subjects. Starting with a quote from ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, the scene is set for the track and it doesn’t verge away from the vibe of the first, apart from gang sing-alongs, which no doubt will be done live by the crowd, at tenfold of the volume. Missing Summer dwells on exactly that, probably due to the time of the year NH wrote this song, whilst maintaining the upbeat nature they lyrics hint at memories from the previous year and how they can’t wait to be repeated “and I felt so good about my life, with no worries, but seasons change, well they have for me”.

As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve dwelled on the lyrics to the first 3 songs more so than I usually would, this is because the sound that NH have created has finally been perfected, as they’ve found their feet as a duo and have obviously worked hard to perfect their sound. This hasn’t gone unnoticed as despite the noodle guitars, strange drum fills and solid rhymthic guitars, they are consistent and some my might say “lacking variation” they don’t need too as this is what Nai Harvest is, consistently light, summer jams.

Eric Forman is the final and hands down the best track. When you listen to it, you’ll understand why. The repetitive noodley intro is nowhere to be heard and a bold guitar and drum intro hits you in the face. Obviously it then re-appears later in the song, but this sudden change in song layout entices you to continue listening. The main body of the song itself is only half the length of the track, the rest is filled with one of the best build ups a duo can do. The sombre guitar and drums merge perfectly at the low volume before opening up into another singlaong, leading into a full-bodied finish where every aspect is trying to make itself heard over the crash cymbals, before finally abruptly toning down, leaving the record on a sad note. Yet you don’t feel sad. You feel uplifted, and then flip the record over and do it all over again.

The Feeling Better 7” should be with us around late June/July through the boys themselves. In the meanwhile it is being streamed and eventually downloadable from: http://naiharvest.bandcamp.com/

Miles xo