The Harpeth Trace-On Disappearing (2008)
Nov 19th, 2008 by frogrunge

Named after singer Josh Kasselman’s past family home on Harpeth Trace Drive in Nashville, this L.A. trio has a great reverence for the past. Their vintage pop has both a melancholy and dreamy feel that can change from optimism to despair all within the same song and, ultimately, transcend time.
Co-produced and engineered by Raymond Richards at his Red Rockets Glare studio in Rancho Park, On Disappearing is a 35-minute collection of wistful yet haunting music led by Kasselman’s high-pitched, ethereal vocals and storytelling lyrics. With influences like The Zombies, Galaxie 500 and The Clientele, The Harpeth Trace has created its own sound that appears to be mellow but forces its listeners to engage.
On the opening track “Summer, Two Weeks,” Kasselman sets the tone for the rest of the songs, creating a Twilight Zone effect that borders on eerie. Singing “We can travel around any way that we please / I travel by train on both of our knees / We are everything,” he welcomes listeners on the band’s psychedelic, dream-pop journey. The next track, “Georgia May,” has a more twangy feel, dominated by a variety of sounds and instrumentation. While this song is meant to tell a story, Kasselman’s languid vocals make the lyrics less audible and the story more mysterious.
“Locked Out and Wandering” and “Dead Eyes” prove to be some of the strongest tracks on the album for their powerful imagery and beauty, despite the latter’s rather morose lyrics and fragile protagonist. Another standout is “The Numbers in Your Hair,” which is more upbeat and reminiscent of The Kinks, and allows Rob Poynter’s drums to take the spotlight for a moment.
On Disappearing is an impressive recording that lures listeners in from the start and keeps them coming back for more; as soon as the record ends, its hard not to want to take The Harpeth Trace journey again and again.
Songs:
1. Who Knows Where You Are [4:23]
2. Georgia May [2:49]
3. Two Plainclothes Cops [4:47]



















