Here Be Monsters

Amazon.com
Here Be Monsters finds singer/songwriter Ed Harcourt developing the gentle melancholy of his previous efforts. "God Protect Your Soul" combines anguished, rambling lyrics ("I need to build a wall around me") and an off-kilter melody with bluesy harmonica and trumpets to create something akin to what Elliot Smith might make sitting at the piano. "Beneath the Heart of Darkness" starts in a similar fashion before slipping into a mash of guitars and radio interference, then drifting back again to a gentle lullaby. While "Apple of My Eye" starts with a quiet but buoyant proclamation--"I'm sick of this angst"--it quickly becomes clear that Harcourt isn't really so positive. This is one for all those who appreciate music that's full of understated despair. --Caroline Butler

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Here Be Monsters

Average customer rating:

here be melody
Chinese Weather
Outstanding album
Madonna!
Here Be Monsters

Here Be Monsters
Ed Harcourt
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006368A
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

Something In My Eye
God Protect Your Soul
She Fell Into My Arms
Those Crimson Tears
Hanging With The Wrong Crowd
Apple Of My Eye
Beneath The Heart Of Darkness
Wind Through The Trees
Birds Fly Backwards
Shanghai
Like Only Lovers Can

Amazon.com

Here Be Monsters finds singer/songwriter Ed Harcourt developing the gentle melancholy of his previous efforts. "God Protect Your Soul" combines anguished, rambling lyrics ("I need to build a wall around me") and an off-kilter melody with bluesy harmonica and trumpets to create something akin to what Elliot Smith might make sitting at the piano. "Beneath the Heart of Darkness" starts in a similar fashion before slipping into a mash of guitars and radio interference, then drifting back again to a gentle lullaby. While "Apple of My Eye" starts with a quiet but buoyant proclamation--"I'm sick of this angst"--it quickly becomes clear that Harcourt isn't really so positive. This is one for all those who appreciate music that's full of understated despair. --Caroline Butler

Customer Reviews:

here be melody.......2006-02-10

Ed Harcourt is a gifted songwriter with a pleasant voice and a knack for writing great melodies. he had some hype leading up to his recording (which cn be misleading, at times) but thankfully, Here Be Monsters is a solid deut album. the influences of Beatles, Big Star, Jackson Browne are all pretty good reference points, but Harcourt has his own sound and has a few surprises up his sleeve. most noteably in the mini-epic "Heart Of Darkness" song, which features a strange and noisy interlude that segways back into the song's spooky melody. "She Fell Into My Arms" and "Shanghai" are perfect pop songs with impeccable timing and irresistable hooks. there's really not a bad track on here...some are moody and sad, some are upbeat but it's all a joy to discover.

Chinese Weather.......2005-06-01

"Here Be Monsters" is an inventive set from this prolific English songwriter. The calling card for the CD is the silly & addictive "Shanghai" with its music hall piano parts, electric guitar jabs, and sighing harmonies, "Let's move away together, go interplanetary, maybe in Chinese weather where it's sanitary." "Those Crimson Tears" with cello and piano is one of the saddest songs, but beautiful for its profound grief. Harcourt is tremendously interesting for his melodic inventiveness and the vast range of instruments he uses to evoke different moods & feelings. "Beneath the Heart of Darkness" shows his expressive vocals and offers an Asian-flavored melody, "The roots of the house are cracking, caving in; There's no way out, it's trapped in." While all of the tracks don't work equally well, "Here Be Monsters" is never boring. Enjoy!

Outstanding album.......2004-07-17

I first found out about Ed Harcourt when I read a review in some magazine. It made an impression and I looked for the album but couldn't find it in retail stores. I forgot about it. A year later a friend sent me a CD-R that he said I had to hear. The name rang a bell and so did the title. I really, really liked it. It combined elements of prog, alternative and a unique soup that had its own taste. It was "Here Be Monsters" by Ed Harcourt.

Harcourt's rich melodies and unusual arrangements make this album a unique experience. While it doesn't sound like anything by Brian Eno, it sounds like something Eno might have done if he had thought of it. Harcourt's whisper of a baritone voice with hints of the smokey qualities of Chris Rea immediately draw you into the melodies and the lyrics he's singing. The music is deceptive on the surface; many of the songs are as calm as a pool of water on a still, winter day while others have the undercurrent of a raging river.

I purchased this album and the follow up. It's no wonder he was nominated for the Mercury prize. He didn't win which is a crime but, unlike many of those artists that win Grammys as "best new artist" that disappear within weeks of winning, Harcourt's music will continue to improve and make an impression even if its on a small hardcore group of fans. I can't describe Harcourt's music any better so listen to the clips to get an idea of what you'll be missing before you forget.

Madonna!.......2004-02-27

This is the stuff of religious proclamations! Top draw stuff, sad piano, up tempo horns, some cool loops and great lyrics...awaiting sphers with baited breath. I would compare (although not in style) to Sea Change by Beck for album greatness.

Here Be Monsters.......2003-11-29

Harcourt fits very nicely into the Bacharachian (like Bacchanalian?) singer-songwriters - those who know how to use trumpet flourishes, glockenspiel and tack piano refrains, and harmony vocals correctly. Though well-received in Europe and a Mercury Music Prize nominee, Harcourt seems to have had difficulty breaking through in America with little critical acclaim and hasn't amassed anything more than a cult audience. His opening spot for Neil Finn's club tour this summer should help him out as the two have similar melodic and rhythmic ideas. "Hanging With The Wrong Crowd" could've been written by Finn himself. Fave tracks: "Something In My Eye," "Apple Of My Eye," "Like Only Lovers Can." (originally written May 2002)

Average customer rating:

Better late than Never
Top stuff from the emerging talent.
Blood curdling!
Nothing to change your life. But it's really rather good.
Ambitious Debut!

Here Be Monsters
Ed Harcourt
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005K209
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

Something In My Eye
God Protect Your Soul
She Fell Into My Arms
Those Crimson Tears
Hanging With The Wrong Crowd
Apple Of My Eye
Beneath The Heart Of Darkness
Wind Through The Trees
Birds Fly Backwards
Shanghai
Like Only Lovers Can

Amazon.com

Britain's current stream of '70s-influenced acts yields this captivating singer-songwriter debut, a favorite among U.K. listeners. Often setting beauty and dread side by side, Harcourt offers glowing pop choruses ("Hanging with the Wrong Crowd," the swooning "She Fell into My Arms") and atmospherics that are sometimes pierced by edges like the phantasmagoric noise explosion that carries away "Beneath the Heart of Darkness." Hints of the pre-Dark Side Floyd's most song-intensive moments surface--the opening "Something in My Eye" could be Syd Barrett's answer record to "Shine On You Crazy Diamond"--along with hints of Nick Drake and Todd Rundgren, but Harcourt keeps himself, and not a set of influences, front and center. Those ready to embrace a romanticism whose most forthright expression is "God, you make me say funny things about you" will likely find Here Be Monsters a necessity. --Rickey Wright

Album Description

Full length debut & followup to the critically acclaimed mini-album, 'Maplewood'. An incredibly accomplished release, showcasing Harcourt's phenomenal song-writing talents. Includes the first single, 'Something In My Eye'. Recorded with Death In Vegas' Tim Holmes co-producing with Gil Norton (Pixies) & Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips). What the critics have said thus far, 'Every song an expertly-faceted gem. Superb'. - Mojo Magazine., 'The most promising pop songwriter in the country' - Uncut, 'As Bold as it is beautiful, coloring off-kilter vignettes with widescreen Americana and spine-tingling melodies' - Q. 2001.

Album Details

Debut full length album and follow up to 2000's critically acclaimed mini album 'Maplewood'. Recorded with Death In Vegas' Tim Holmes co-producing. Mixed by Gil Norton (Pixies) & Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips).

Customer Reviews:

Better late than Never.......2002-03-09

A friend of mine in England was raving about this guy so much last year I bought everything that he has produced thus far.

Before reviewing this album I want to rant a little about the delays in getting good stuff over here in the US when it is available in Europe and elsewhere long before it reaches these shores. With internet radio and good market research it must be within the bounds of the imagination to be able to move artists and material over here a lot sooner. It seems to me that there is more concern about shipping millions of units of J-Lo ( sounds like a Chinese dish doesn't it?) without trying to build up emerging foreign artists.

This album grows on you after several plays. Ed Harcourt uses a wide variety of voice, musical styles and instruments and has a strong lyrical content to his songs. Powerful imagery is evoked and emotions stirred by the songs. I have had this in my car an awful lot since I bought it last year and never tire of it.

Trying to provide a reference point for Harcourt is difficult - I find myself thinking of Martin Stephenson at times, at others, Jackson Browne, often Kevin Coyne although none of them are similar. I think too, of Nick Drake, of Michael Chapman and even Roy Harper.

Ed Harcourt is Ed Harcourt. This is a splendid album and deserves to be in everyone's library.

Thank you Mike Kirby for introducing me to this artist. You always did have excellent taste.

Top stuff from the emerging talent........2001-10-12

Whisper it but Ed Harcourt was once a member of a Britpop group - there's no point me telling you which one, but this album is a shining example of how he's grown in the last three years. From keyboard player in an also-ran group to headline artists on one of the CDs of the year, he's done himself proud. Harcourt can do pop : Apple Of My Eye, She Fell Into My Arms; he can do melancholy : Something In My Eye, Like Only Lovers Can; he can do epic : Beneath The Heart Of Darkness (the real jewel in this crown). This is a superbly promising full debut. The hope is that Harcourt is given the encouragement (and funding) to go all the way.

Blood curdling!.......2001-08-24

It sounds like Ed has spent a horrific weekend at some haunted house, to create Here Be Monsters, in the presence of blithe spirits, chattering skeletons, walls dripping blood, dark rooms and a piano played by an invisible musician.He evokes such an eerie atmosphere, peaking with the consecutive tracks "In the heart of darkness" and "Wind through the trees", my own personal favourites. To quote an old Joy Division song, these are real songs from under the floorboards. So, turn off the lights an envisage yourself sitting alone a cold, dark room with the door creaking in the near distance and the curtains shivering to the winds' chilling touch and with an 'eadless Ed Harcourt at the keyboards. Listen to the beautifully crafted stories of Ed Harcourt, definitely one of the years' best, 'cos here certainly be monsters. CHILL!

Nothing to change your life. But it's really rather good........2001-08-01

I very much enjoyed this. It is a 'good' cd. Harcourt shows some enormous potential but i can't help but think it isn't really realised in this cd. The closest he comes is his epic 'God Protect Your Soul' in which he really does explore his ability. He introduces us to the song with a somewhat catchy 'dah, dah dah dah dah.... dom...' piano bass riff which acts as an ongoing theme throughout. And something which he takes the song back to to finish. Very nice. He sings 'I need to build a wall around me, but i want to smile with everybody.' The above i view as a fantastic lyric which brings me on to his lyrics and indeed my only qualm with the album. Some of them can be a bit... (for want of a better word) bad. In the extremely catchy penultimate 'Shanghai' he sings 'We're going to Shanghai/to watch the red sky.' Hmmmm... Similarly in the opener he sings 'Spider has eight legs you know,' and leaves the listener with a sense of, 'yes, i do know. But... so what?' (If you listen to the song the answer is 'Spins its web, the patterns flow.') With critism out of my system it has to be said that i'm being a little... [INSERT WORD HERE] It could be that i'm looking for flaws in what many would view as being a nigh on faultless album. It could be that a friend of a friend used to be in a band with Ed Harcourt and that he was being a little nasty to a waitress in a retaurant the other day. But one can't help but smile at the glorius gospel-like and uplifting feel to 'Hanging with the wrong crowd' and 'Apple of my Eye'. And, when listening to 'Those crimson tears', one can't help but shed a tear of one's own. I may have been i little harsh above. I don't want to mislead you. This is a 'good' cd. And, in all honesty, it didn't leave my cd player until i got my first Nick Drake cd a week later. Nothing to change your life. But it's really rather good.

Ambitious Debut!.......2001-07-24

The first c.d. proper from the much hyped multi-instrumentalist Ed Harcourt shows signs of a very promising future.This is a vast improvement on last years mini album Mapplewood as the song-writing is full of ambitious arrangements.The versatility shown on this c.d. is also excellent.You can hear elements of Jeff Buckley,Elliot Smith and Tom Waits in many of the songs.

This isn't just another gentle acoustic album as I'd sort of expected.I mean it isn't just one man and his guitar.Harcourt is credited with playing everything from guitars to piano,wurlitzer,organ and even sax.There's also plenty of full brass and string sections also.The music ranges from the melancholy like the beautiful Those Crimson Tears with it's piano and simple cello backing a voice so smooth but is filled with sorrow.There are quite a few very up-beat numbers such as 'Shanghai' which sees Harcourts vocals sounding full of fun and mischief.Songs like 'God protect Your Soul' are very reminiscent of Jeff Buckley without the falsetto.Piano and a shimmering drum machine added to drums,guitar and a full blown brass section which explodes around the chorus.Some of the songs have simpler arrangements like 'Hanging With Wrong Crowd' which is a simple 4 minute almost pop song driven by acoustic guitar.Track 7 'Beneath The heart of Darkness' is quite an epic,slow and laid back 7 minute song.Harcourt gives us the full range on this excellent song-piano and bass dominate the song-yet all the time trumpets and strings drift in and out to give this song a really atmostpheric feel.Then suddenly the sound takes you by surprise when loud,heavy distorted guitars create a sonic blur.

Like many of the songs on this c.d. it's a song that is written by an ambitious and very creative artist.It's music of the highest quality and Harcourt is certainly an artist worth keeping an eye on.Not a truly great album,he may yet record one,but a very good debut.

Here Be Monsters
Average customer rating:
Here Be Monsters
Burlap Lute
Manufacturer: Whiteraven
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAKHUG
Release Date: 2005-05-24