Byron Lee Scott’s Harmony Dreamers project sets a new standard for conceptual music releases in the 21st century. This isn’t a concept album in the traditional sense – I Come from Earth’s songs make no pretense toward storytelling and there’s no theme or multiple themes bringing the work together in an overarching way. Instead, they share a common tone of inclusivity, positiveness, and an overall outlook that any audience can take in without embarrassment or horror. The tenor of the album is far from dark, but please don’t think that the Harmony Dreamers project is filled with Pollyanna-ish songs lacking any bite.
Even the seriocomic opener and title song “I Come from Earth” packs a surprising musical punch. Some listeners may long for the rhythm section to be juiced up in the mix but it’s still a physically invigorating song that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats throughout. Scott’s vocal delivery provides much of the singing for this initial number. Later songs, however, are much more prominent in featuring secondary singers such as “Pass It On”. The warm and inclusive mood of this track stands in sharp contrast to the more challenging terrain posed by the opener and its grasp of melody is much more inviting as well. The increased presence of vocal harmonies is a sweet touch that listeners will hear again from these songs.
“You Don’t Have to Say It” offers us some pure pop bliss. It isn’t plotted out to the umpteenth degree as it might be in the hands of some Scott contemporaries. He dispatches songs in this style, instead, with plenty of melodic substance and overall discipline supporting the track. It is probably one of the album’s more obviously adult lyrics but, even then, Harmony Dreamers gives its emotional tone the sort of presentation any listener can enjoy.
There’s a moderate rock edge at play, as well, for listeners who enjoy that sort of thing, during tracks such as “No Stopping”. A shrewd understanding of dynamics is essential to the overall success of the album, and it exists on both an overall and song-by-song basis. There’s a light stride carrying listeners across the finish line of this performance. “Spinning Round the Sun” will be the memory many listeners take away from Harmony Dreamers’ I Come from Earth as its three-part structure captures your imagination and ear early.
Much of its success or failure hinges on the listener’s appreciation for electronic textures. Harmony Dreamers’ musical framework favors synthesizers, it isn’t the only thing, of course, and Scott composes these songs with orchestration on his mind. The three parts of “Spinning Round the Sun”, especially the final section “Solar Rays”, testifies to his aptitude with the form. There’s a treasure trove of musical strengths to rifle through in this release and it never taxes your patience. Even multi-part tracks with obvious ambition like the aforementioned cut are astonishingly and refreshingly direct. Harmony Dreamers’ I Come from Earth has something for everyone and remains wildly entertaining throughout.
Chadwick Easton