It’s a band name that could be too much for a pop group. The City Harmonic recalls a symphonic standard which really isn’t in the sights of this band. However, on another level, the name does reveal what you can find in the band’s music—symphonic pop, rich harmonies, and orchestrations which raise the pop to great atmospherics.
Most surprisingly here is the way in which the catechism-like lyrics of “Manifesto” are set to good music. Reading the lyrics—which are in part like the Apostles’ Creed while also reciting the Lord’s Prayer—one might think of the song as being boringly pedantic. But the anthemic quality, perhaps closest resembling Leeland, rises to the occasion to declare the broad faith in Christ.
At only six tracks, Introducing the City Harmonic gives just a glimpse of what might be to come from this band with the lofty name. If vocalist/keyboardist Elias Dummer keeps up punctuating their songs with piano, then they will continue survive. Sweeping string sounds may threaten to paste over the songs with too much gloss, but that piano punctuation breaks it all up, keeps it organic, and has the ability to lead the group’s songwriting.
