Harry Kappen’s fourth LP, “Four,” arrives as a powerful declaration of artistic ferocity and emotional truth—a record that refuses to be pigeonholed by genre or expectation. In “Four,” Kappen lays bare the anguish, ecstasy, and restless yearning that define modern existence, threading together rock riffs, intimate jazz interludes, and a splash of Latin warmth into a work that’s as eclectic as it is deeply personal.
Kappen, whose career has steadily ascended from the sensitive musings of “Pictures” to the fervent defiance of “Escape” and the reflective rumination of “Time Will Tell,” now embarks on a narrative journey through love, courage, desire, and the relentless pursuit of living. Opening with the gutsy, hook-laden “The Longing,” he immediately establishes the potency of his lyrical vision—a struggle fought between head and heart that resonates with anyone who’s ever been caught in the crossfire of reason and passion.
Tracks like “Be Brave if You Can” and “Courage” are not merely songs but manifestos—invocations of bravery amid chaos, with Kappen’s delivery sounding both tender and tenacious. The title track “Courage,” featuring that emblematic line about the eagle spreading its wings, serves as a stirring anthem for anyone daring to face life’s uncertainties. Even as Kappen dips into nostalgic recollection with “Forever Young” and playful whimsy in “Chasing Rabbits,” there’s an unyielding seriousness to the work’s undercurrent, an insistence that even in play, life’s fragility is palpable.
What stands out about “Four” is its uncompromising authenticity; every note, every lyric is a testament to Kappen’s hands-on dedication—he’s the orchestrator of his destiny, composing, engineering, and producing this record in his own image. The production is raw yet resolute, capturing the spontaneity of a live performance while also providing the clarity needed to hear the subtle shifts between its rock, pop, and Latin-inflected soundscapes.
There’s a familiar comfort in the way Kappen channels influences from the likes of McCartney, Bowie, and Prince, but he never sounds derivative. Instead, he distills these echoes into something uniquely his own: a searing chronicle of internal battles and external triumphs. The album’s lyrical prowess, whether it’s the plaintive sacrifice of “I’ll Die for You” or the invigorating declaration found in “The Choices We’ve Made,” challenges the listener to confront the relentless march of time and the beauty hidden in its passage.
“Four” isn’t just an album—it’s an experience that demands attentive listening. For Kappen, music is not merely a craft; it’s a lifeline to the human soul, reaffirming that even amid life’s turbulence, our capacity to love, to dream, and to defy expectation remains unquenchable. In a musical landscape saturated with recycled clichés, “Four” stands as an uncompromising reinvention, a reminder that true art is born of risk, introspection, and an unwavering commitment to one’s inner truth.
–Tom Ridgemont
