CD Review: You Are Here by thenewno2

The long-awaited album by thenewno2 was just released, and it was well worth the wait. The album is extremely diverse, yet it all gels to make one incredibly strong album. With Dhani Harrison on lead guitar and vocals and Oli Hecks on drums, as well as appearances by Nick Fyffe, Josh Lopez, Paul Hicks, Marc Mann, and Tom Hammond, the musicianship is fantastic. There is so much to take in that the first few listens are almost overwhelming. Each song has so many layers of sound and meaning that it can sustain repeated listening without getting boring.

So Vain – This song has a really interesting, ambient kind of groove to it that had me hooked from the first moment. The beginning guitar sounds seem to be reminiscent of the song “Lord Lord” from thenewno2’s Promotional EP 001, but then it soon becomes something totally different. It has a vibe-y atmospheric sound that is developing into a signature sound of thenewno2, and at the same time it is rocking and almost psychedelic in places. The electronic sounds in the background play off the lyrics in a cool way. The music seems to almost illustrate what the lyrics are saying. The song draws the listener into the tone of the album, and into another world for the next 50 minutes.

Another John Doe – This was the first single, and it is probably the most recognized album track among fans of thenewno2. Taking a well-known phrase like Another John Doe and turning it into a song could be a difficult thing to do, but thenewno2 have done it wonderfully, having no trouble avoiding cliches that may be tempting to use in conjunction with the title. Instead, the lyrics are written beautifully. It’s hypnotic tone draws the listener in right away. The music is mesmerizing, with a highlight at Dhani’s slide guitar solo in the middle of the song. The song conjures up images of an old black and white movie with crowds of people blindly walking down busy streets going about their business. Another John Doe seems to represent a struggle between wishing to remain anonymous and breaking out into the public eye. The solo starts with one note, and then there is a pause before it continues, sounding like a slight hesitation before fully sliding into it. Perhaps is could represent a hesitation to break out of the comfort of remaining anonymous? There are so many dimensions to this song that it can be listened to repeatedly and something new will pop out every time.

Back to You – This song begins with sound clips of news footage that then gets twisted and muffled into a pulsating drum beat. The lyrics are extremely thought provoking, with multiple themes and layers of meaning. Lyrically the song takes the listener by surprise a few times – going to unexpected places that really work well. The imagery of “oceans of misinformation” to comment on the vast amount of information the world is bombarded with constantly is really stunning. For me, this is a true highlight of the album.

Give You Love – I liked this song from the first moment I heard it; as of now it is my favorite on the album. It is definitely one of the catchiest songs on the album. The synths in the intro and through the whole song complement the Dhani’s vocal performance perfectly. The drum beat, especially after the first verse really picks up into a quick groove, which is why it comes as no surprise that Oli mentioned in a recent interview that this is one of his favorite songs to play live. There are some really interesting things that happen in the middle of this song that give it such a unique feel. There are some cool vocal effects at the end that caught me by surprise but completely fit. This is definitely a song that can be listened to over and over again.

Bluesy - Bluesy starts out with some very cool like harmonies that sound almost like chanting over a vacant landscape. It then picks up with a cool electronic sounding drum beat, while the harmonies continue after each phrase. The song feels like it can put you into a trance. I could see it working very well in a film as a girl walks down the street toward and than away from a love interest. This is another song where Dhani’s voice really shines. The title is very fitting to the feel of the song.

Yomp – This is the first of the new songs that fans were able to hear; it has been made available for listening on the band’s myspace and it will also be available to download on Rock Band for XBox 360 and PS3. The song a real rocker, and it is a perfect choice for the Rock Band game. Oli’s crashing drums and Dhani’s killer lead guitar are real highlights, as well as Dhani’s strong vocals. The beginning of the song seems to be directed at all the naysayers out there. Record company execs are most likely specific suspects in this case, but it could certainly apply to a variety of people. The last verse (or maybe verses, depending on which way you read into it) seems to be directed more towards anyone who wants to go their own way in life. It gives the listener a feeling of freedom – it’s okay to go your own way, you don’t have to listen to what others say. The song lyrics are probably personal in many ways, but it can apply to anyone’ life in one way or another, which is why it definitely has the potential to touch a lot of people. Dhani’s voice is forceful on this one, and at the same time he shows his wide range as a vocalist. The guitar solo at the end of the song is fantastic, and really spotlights Dhani’ talent as a guitarist. The song is totally in line with the spirit of thenewno2 as a band – they are doing it all their own way, and they are at the forefront of this new path for bands to follow and become successful. Yomp is truly inspirational and uplifting while also being extremely energetic and fun to listen to.

Hiding Out – The into to this sounded almost like a 60;s ballad, because of the drum beat. Dhani’s falsetto vocals really caught me by surprise the first time I heard it, in a really good way. He sounds very sweet and innocent. Starting in the second verse, the backing vocals and harmonies make it even more beautiful to hear. The song seems to pick up on the theme of Another John Doe with the struggle between anonymity and being done hiding out, But it also feels as if there is another layer to it also. The ending of the song with a few bass notes sounds cool and original.

Crazy Tuesday – Ukulele starts off this track, which will give a tug on anyone’s heart if he or she is a fan of Dhani’s father George. The song touches on the difficulty of long distance relationships. It sounds like he’s talking to himself; you can picture him singing in his room looking out the window thinking about a girl. The echo-y guitar and the backing vocals are very catchy and it’s a lot of fun to sing along. The title of the song relates a lyric in the last verse, which is intriguing. It’s also interesting to note that all of thenewno2’s planned shows (at the moment) are on Tuesday nights.

Idle Lover - I truly was blown away by this track, and the more I listen to it the more I love it. This is another that I can really see working extremely well at the end of a movie or at a point when a character chooses to make a big change. The song takes on indecisiveness and idleness. Dhani’s voice works so well here because, sung in another way it could sound angry or accusing, but here it still has a sweetness to it. Dhani’s vocal range is also highlighted here with some very low, sultry notes. The guitar solo is gorgeous as well. Something about the feel of this song is very touching and emotional.

Shelter – A folksy guitar sound begins this track, which turns into a dreamy, peaceful-sounding tune. The song itself feels like an auditory shelter from the rest of the world. The lyrics brings about vivid imagery dealing with nature – the moon, the trees, strong storms, rising seas, hurricanes, etc. The ukulele touch at the end of the song is perfect, as it fades into the next song with an almost classical sound.

Wind Up Dead - The string sounds from Shelter fade into a beatbox/rap feeling. The keyboards in the background later come into the foreground and turns the song around into a more upbeat jazzy song. Bryony Atkinson’s sings backing vocals, and the contrast between her voice and Dhani’s give the song a great new dimension. There were a lot of “cheeky” phrases in this song that gave me quite a few smiles, and a smile is always a good way to end an album.

Overall, this is a fantastic debut album from thenewno2. It leaves the listener with plenty of thoughts as well as plenty of great tunes in your head. Each song shines in it’s own unique way and the album leaves the listener wanting more. It is an impressive first release and it’s so exciting to think about what else may be in store from thenewno2 in the future!

Review by Guest Writer Lauren Podolsky of AbsolutelyDhaniHarrison.com