GOLDHOUSE – All Night Long
Album Review by Marina Oliver
The man behind former electronic name Breathe Electric has re-emerged better than ever under the title GOLDHOUSE. The recently released All Night Long mixes old fan favorites with brand new electro-dance-pop tracks to provide a coherent sound under Harris’ new musical project.
Long-time listeners will recognize “Last One You Love,” “Dreamin” and “Talk to Me” as singles released when Harris was Breathe Electric, but they are hardly wasting space on the new album. The re-release of these songs will refresh the audience on the artist’s smooth electronic mixes and polished vocals. They contribute to the blended sound of GOLDHOUSE’s first release, and compose the heartfelt side of the collection by covering the soft subject of love without crossing the line to sugary.
“Last One You Love” is particularly catchy and showcases Harris’ talent for creating smooth tempo transitions to keep the songs fresh. This ability to vary style so well is part of the reason Harris stands apart from the new crop of electronic artists that grows daily. Just when listeners settle into the groove of a song, Harris throws in a breakdown or a new layer to liven the track.
Opener “F-C-K” provides the bounce of the album with its driving beat. It was a track that instantly stood out and remained with me the longest, in part because of the clever chorus. It set high standards for the rest of the new songs, but I found them less memorable than the first track.
“What If” is a solid song, but for Harris seemed average in comparison to others. It is danceable yet does not quite reach the level worthy of ‘car blasting’. “Take Off Your Halo” immediately follows and offers much of the same as “What If.” These tracks are neither explosive nor mellow, but hover somewhere between dance party and background music from a playlist.
“The Moment” slows the album with a calmer sound, but doesn’t pack enough sentimentality to warrant it is middle tempo. GOLDHOUSE does his best work using undeniably catchy tunes and strong beats, but “The Moment” seems to hover in mid-air unsure of whether to elevate to the next level or come back to earth.
Overall, the album is a chance to rediscover some great oldies from Grant Harris and to gather a new jam or two, but it didn’t quite rise to mind-blowing levels. Harris proved his material is still solid and easy on the ears even with an identity change, and I can only imagine he will hit his GOLDHOUSE groove and continue to produce dance-worthy electronic music in future releases.
Overall Rating: 4/5
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