Berkeley Girl single released 13 September 2010 on [PIAS] Recordings
In support of his recent critically-acclaimed debut album, singer-songwriter Harper Simon is set to release the beautiful Berkeley Girl as a single.
An old-fashioned love song (though this time written to an old friend) of the sweetest variety, Berkeley Girl puts Simon's gift as a lyricist to the fore. "She is juniper and roses/She is amethyst and pearl/And though she makes her home in Hollywood/She's really just a Berkeley girl," it says.
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Harper Simon is a singer-songwriter based between Los Angeles and New York. Released in April, Simon's eponymous debut won plaudits across the board for its taut songcraft. It was recorded in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles with the help of an impressive and decidedly eclectic, multigenerational group of musical collaborators - famed producer Bob Johnston (the man behind classic recordings from Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen), an all-star group of veteran first-call Nashville session players, an impressive group of contemporary young singer-songwriters and musicians, friends, and yes even Harper's own father, the legendary Paul Simon.
But for all the crucial musical support he received from so many great artists, Simon himself is everywhere on this debut album. He sings most of the gorgeous and evocative harmonies and plays the lion's share of the stunning guitar parts, as well as co-arranging both the string and horn arrangements, which bring unforgettable musical shading to the album. He has taken time and care to make an album built to last. And this is only the beginning.
Likely to be heading back to the UK in September, you can catch Harper Simon right now at various festivals and venues.
"These are 10 cleverly written, elegantly played and beautifully sung pieces of pop craftsmanship" - Uncut **** 'Debut Album of the Month'
"Adopting the various styles of American folk-rock cheerfully and unselfconsciously... it's a treat" - The Guardian 4 stars
"Sweet sounding, impossible-to-dislike" - Q
"His self-titled debut is a touching, often beautiful collection of lilting chamber-pop and country-tinged songs" - The Sunday Times
"It could be Elliott Smith's younger brother" - The Sunday Independent
Harper Simon UK tour dates:
August 2010
Fri 6 Belladrum Festival, Inverness
Sun 8 Pocklington Arts Centre, Pocklington
Fri 14 Summer Sundae, Leicester
Harper Simon Official Website
Harper Simon MySpace
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