h. eldritch – Innocent Sinner (2023)
Picture the scene: the place is a South London school, the time is yesteryear, and the person is a dude named Harry Houseago…and this was the beginning of h. eldritch. As a child, Houseago discovered his passion for songwriting and music that would reach international ears. With his writing, performance and early development of a distinctive sound, Houseago earned praise from the late Malcolm McLaren and percussive guitarist John Gomm – and all while he was at school. Skip ahead a few years and his reputation grew throughout London and Bristol as a “phenomenal live performer”. With his bold stage presence and engaging melodies, Houseago quickly found himself at Bath Festival’s 70th anniversary sharing a stage with Robert Plant and Paloma Faith. Moreover, he was endorsed by Cole Clark guitars, and his debut EP was co-produced with Tim Morris, mastered by Dick Beetham and performed entirely solo by Houseago.
Alright, so we have a very brief inkling as to what happened with Houseago but what about h. eldritch as it stands today. As news of his awesomeness grew, he recruited multi-instrumentalists James Hill and Oscar Reynolds creating a trio of awesomeness. Oozing passion and natural talent, the band h. eldritch was invited to perform at various UK festivals including Glastonbury Festival and several Pub In The Park shows sharing the stage with the likes of Sam Ryder and McFly. All the while, the trio were meticulously crafting a distinctive sound to stand out amidst the rest with its insatiable inimitability.
Following the well-received single ‘Amateur Anthropology’, h. eldritch released the single ‘Innocent Sinner’ to critical acclaim across the globe. Unlike its predecessor with an eclectic insanity of electronica and classic rock, ‘Innocent Sinner’ is less chaotic. Adopting a steadier alternative rock style reminiscent of the 90s, ‘Innocent Sinner’ is heavier, harder and grittier. The fusion of bold drums with powerful guitars and Houseago’s gruff vocals has a certain mellifluous flow; however, as the tension builds throughout the track, there is a tumultuous uncertainty. Ultimately, the crashing drums and scorching guitars toss you about in a siege of dark waves with Houseago’s voice crying out amidst the swirling water.
One aspect I find intriguing about ‘Innocent Sinner’ is not the growing intensity of a brooding alternative rock song. Instead, it is how the band expose the complexity of human fragility in a sweep of crashing music. Vulnerable but volatile. Intricate but simplistic. Delicate but damning. With a four-minute tearing into emotion, you feel spent but satisfied after this soul-stirring, breathtaking musical masterpiece.
Find out more about h. eldritch on their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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