by Ljubinko Zivkovic (@zivljub)
How do you explore guitar sounds in modern pop/rock without resorting to extensive, and often excruciating guitar solos? You just may ask (or even better, listen to) Steve Hartlett, one of those indie mavericks that has been exploring the left fields of indie guitar pop either as a member of Ovlov and Stove, or through his recent solo catalog. There’s no exception with one of his latest releases, the 308 EP, which, as Hartlett explains himself, he recorded "in Bethel, CT between 8/05 - 8/16 2021," and then promptly released the day after. After all, why wait? The potential audience is waiting impatiently.
Jokes aside, actually it should. Through the five tracks here, Hartlett shows what real lo-fi, or bedroom ethics should sound like. From the opening acoustic “Hard to Say Goodbye” through the tinky-toy electronics of "20210808_113135_Normal" back to acoustics of “MD” back to his toys to some excellent gentle balladry of the concluding “Macy's.”
Throughout, Hartlett seems to keep his tongue firmly between his cheek, quite evident with his comment that "the vocal melody of the chorus for "Hard to Say Goodbye" was straight stolen from Claudine but I heard she was a murderer so I figured it was ok." For the uninitiated, Claudine he refers to is one Claudine Longet, a popular soft pop figure and actress of the Sixties, who possessed one of the most twee voices around. Nothing twee about what Hartlett is coming up on 308 though.