Boston’s own coldwave trio House of Harm shines bright with the release of their shimmering new single, “Taste The Light.”
“Taste The Light” is a brilliant example of the powerful synergy that can be achieved when disparate elements come together in perfect harmony. The track’s dance floor-ready vortex of guitars, synths, and vocals evoke a sense of self-assured magnificence, a confidence tempered by the flames of adversity and weathered by the unrelenting challenges of life. As a result, the music takes on a contemporary twist, adding a restless drama to the mix.
Drawing inspiration from the gothic rock genre, “Taste The Light” finds its energetic place among esteemed sonic bedfellows such as Editors, Aztec Camera, She Past Away, and early 4AD bands. The song’s overall sound manages to maintain a balance between melancholy and hope, ensuring that it never falls entirely into a chasm of despair. The interplay between light and darkwave elements in the track creates an enticing atmosphere with its harmonious fusion of contrasting elements, showcasing the musicians’ mastery of their craft.
House of Harm has also released a stunningly clever visual counterpart for the new single. Pulling inspiration from early films such as Nosferatu and Battleship Potemkin, as well as the ominous style of David Lynch, the band’s signature stylistic art-house film feel brings “Taste the Light” to life; the metaphorical reason for the Expressionist choice has to do with the human psyche. Filmmaker Caroline Bailey directed the video.
“We were flipping through some old vaudeville style silent films from the early 1900s on YouTube and were really interested how everything seemed so sped up.” explains Tyler Kershaw. “Since there was no audio to align, the projectionist had more slack with how fast they could play it back. Because of this, the film stock seems to ~breathe~ in and out every few seconds. By looking at it through the lens of projecting motion at the “incorrect” framecount per second, it was obvious to find a loop back to the themes of this song. Dreams and people rush by, completely unnoticed in retrospect because you’re projecting it totally wrong.”
Watch the video for “Taste the Light” below:
House of Harm, a band often labeled as post-punk by everyone except the members themselves, brings a rejuvenating touch to the underground scene. Their two demo EPs released in 2019 swiftly garnered a devoted global fanbase, as well as an impressive roster of support slots. The group has had the privilege of opening for renowned acts like Editors, She Past Away, Lust For Youth, Soft Kill, and The Cure’s Reeves Gabrels.
The band will be heading west in August to perform in Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona:
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