It doesn’t matter how cynical you are – this one has to melt you at least a little bit. Ben Harper and his mother are set to release a collaboration album, Childhood Home, this May.
It’s just another new angle from Harper. The Californian singer-songwriter has a deep instrumental arsenal, and a penchant for innovation to match. Childhood reaches back to the origin of those talents: Harper’s grandparents’ music store and museum in Claremont. Multiple generations of the family have maintained the store, and made liberal use of it as a sound lab. Growing up around “guitars, banjos, tablas, ukuleles” and more made both Ben and Ellen Harper natural multi-instrumentalists. Local artists – including Ry Cooder and David Lindley – taught master classes at the museum as well, making it a musical nexus, and the best musical education anyone could ask for.
The new album sees the Harpers discarding cheap nostalgia in favor of an honest musical portrayal of family life – tenderness and pain are both present. Check below for track listing, and click through to listen to “A House is a Home”, one of the songs off the upcoming release.
Childhood Home
01. A House Is a Home
02. City of Dreams
03. Born to Love You
04. Heavyhearted World
05. Farmer’s Daughter
06. Memories of Gold
07. Altar of Love
08. Break Your Heart
09. Learn It All Again Tomorrow
10. How Could We Not Believe
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