Adam Stafford - Build a Harbour Immediately

If there is a man that doesn’t need an introduction, that’s Falkirk’s Adam Stafford. This talented Scot has recently moved on from being part of Y’All Is Fantasy Island to working solo, and so with eagerness and bucket-loads of talent Mr. Stafford is about to release his debut album as a solo artist.

That he is talented is a fact that appears crystal clear as soon as you hit play on Build a Harbour Immediately. This magnificent record works as a lecture on life as interpreted by music, waltzing from the delicate instrumental pieces to majestic folk-ish interpretations, it stuns, pleases and delights. The sweet taste left in your mouth upon hearing Fire & Theft is simply exquisite, a track that knows how to work its ways within seconds and has the power to make you feel good like unlike many.

As the record progresses to the second track, titled Police No Speech, you will be stunned by the utter delicacy and elegant atmosphere that is created with the aid of nothing much but the chords of an instrumental guitar, ambient noises and the comforting, if at times melancholic, vocals as they work their way through the track.

The record simply enjoys balancing itself between its two sides, at times cheerful, witty and fun, and then delicate, elegant and melancholic. The former can be tasted in such tracks Step Up, Raise Hands or the more “experimental” Shot-down You Summer Wannabes that lacks any instrument other than Adam’s voice providing both melody and vocals. The latter can be instead sampled in the three last offerings of the record, tracks that jump to different music genres as ambient elements are more and more evident here. However, what strikes the most is Adam’s voice, here transforming itself to become haunting yet soothing, as you will find in the title track and its unsettling lush soundscape. Again, with A Vast Crystal Skull things take a similar path by creating incredibly rich patterns and intricate textures that serve as a web for Adam’s vocal chords to build and play upon.

Build a Harbour Immediately is a delicate record of sober beauty that may not scream and boast of its talents but will reward the most careful of listeners, as repeat listens will reveal small details that you may have missed before. If you give it the attention it deserves, it will cling to you and never let go. A real gem of an album.