As the child of a Beatles member, all Dhani Harrison wants is for his work to speak for itself. Unfortunately, "comp-Harrisons" are easy, but he wishes people wouldn't go there. Along with Oliver Hecks, Harrison co-founded thenewno2 as a "faceless company" that produces art of all mediums. This unique moniker is a reference to the 1960s television show "The Prisoner," on which Prisoner No. 2 was a role played by many faces.
Harrison and Hecks began their work where George Harrison left off. After his untimely death in 2001, they completed "Brainwashed" (2002), George's final album. With obvious appreciation for their roots, thenewno2 just released "You Are Here," its first studio album. Though the album will be plagued by countless Beatles comparisons due to its own magical, mystery-like harmonies, thenewno2 has created a unique, modern sound. Hecks proves to be a formidable mixer and musician, and Harrison brings more to the table than just a chilling resemblance to his father.
Dhani Harrison tends to describe thenewno2's sound as "electro-blues-surf-rock-drum and bass." This may sound like a scattershot attempt at categorization, but there is cohesion in the album's madness. With Harrison on lead guitar and vocals and Hecks on drums and synths, thenewno2 achieves diverse, multi-layered instrumentation throughout the album.
In today's music industry, it is rare to find a new band with such promise in every aspect of the recording process. Harrison's melancholic vocals constantly stretch to mesh with the music in new ways, while Hecks' producing proves to be both inventive and unwaveringly strong on each track. Additionally, Hecks has directed and produced all of the band's music videos to date and personally created thenewno2's Web site. This young group doesn't need to outsource for talent and already functions like a self-reliant, well-oiled machine.
The highlight track on "You Are Here" is definitively "Back to You," a haunting number on which Harrison sings plaintively over a bed of lush electronica. He wails about "no progression from the situation/ just oceans of misinformation." One can't help but wonder if this song is about the ghost dogging Dhani's present situation: his father. On "Give You Love," the band presents its take on popular music. Though the instrumentation resembles the band Air in its ethereal quality, the lyrics are deliciously pop. Harrison laments, "It's terrible to think I messed it up/ when all I wanted to do was give you love."
Moving away from heartbreak, "Yomp" triumphs with its modern twist on classic rock. This track was well-received on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" when the band performed live in February. On "Wind Up Dead," Amanda Butterworth provides backing vocals with the flair of Diana Ross and the Supremes. Harrison's voice is strengthened by her complementary digital harmonies. The final track on "You Are Here," "You Gotta Wait," perhaps bears the most resemblance to the omnipresent Beatles. In this piece, "A Hard Day's Night" meets Massive Attack; its driving percussion and energetic chorus finish the album intelligently and energetically. While thenewno2 may dip its toes into many genres on this album, the band remains true to its electro-blues-surf-rock-drum and bass core.
There are two things that may hurt thenewno2 following the release of their debut album: Harrison's name and the band's infancy. Although he is as influenced as any child would be by his father, Dhani Harrison's lyrics and voice are truly his own in their eloquence and simplicity. As he and Hecks refine their sound and polish their production, hopefully critics will judge them on their personal merits instead of their lineage. This band is throwing out a sound that effortlessly bridges the gap from past to present. With a recent invitation to perform at this year's Coachella Festival, it seems that music listeners have caught thenewno2's line and are reeling themselves in eagerly.
