Snug Harbor – Songs from the York
It’s a simple recipe, really. Take a cup of herky-jerky funk, throw in a dash of an opportunistic rhythm section and grease the wheels with a driving horn section. Bake for five minutes, and repeat. If music is food for the soul, then Snug Harbor’s newest offering, Sounds from the York, is the ultimate 30-minute meal. The soul/funk genre is a deceptively complex one. In the right hands, it sings like no other, reminding you of the glorious amalgamation of all things right with early 20th century music and its rich history. Yet in the wrong hands, you’re dutifully reminded of the difference between a rut and a groove. From the bravado of the opening track’s horn salvo, “What You Want,” to the quirky, progressive rock flirtations of the finale, “Moldy Salsa,” the seven-piece resoundingly falls in the former category. Throughout the disc, Snug Harbor manages a dance-happy mood while keeping things short and sweet. Quite the feat for a band playing a genre that all-too-often features novices boring their respective audiences.
If anything, this band follows their heart. Perceived repetitiveness aside, they’re staying true to themselves. It will be interesting to see what this outfit will do with a future full-length record. At the moment, the tunes are perfect for either center stage or background noise; which, when it comes to versatility, isn’t a bad thing. The nucleus is there. All that is needed is a spark to separate them from their peers; of which there is no shortage of in Bellingham.
With Songs from the York, they’re off to a good start.
Self Released
myspace.com/snugharbor
