Immediately, the clockwork mechanics grab our attention as Brian Harnetty’s “The Workbench” finds its feet within an emotive framework. An aural representation of his father, Paul, that stings with sweetness, an embrace outlined by recorded memories and glowing sonic imagery. Chord progressions move languidly, an eternal sigh through piano strings buoyed by cello and bass clarinet silhouettes. Voicemail recordings from Harnetty’s father morph from something banal into something golden through the weight of this music. They are so precise and personal yet most of us know these messages well. Harnetty weaves them into these beautiful arrangements that are fleeting.
The video has a magic of its own as it flips through the artifacts of Paul Harnetty’s life while adding a tactile element to the music. Carried by the wistful chord progressions and emotive accouterments, each object is a tiny puzzle piece attempting to fill in the impossible details that make a person whole. I am so moved by this music and these visuals, letting it carry me away it becomes impossible not to think about my own future self when I have to sort through my own parents’ lives. I hope I can do it with the grace and melancholic beauty of Brian Harnetty’s “The Workbench.” A masterclass.
“The Workbench” is out now on Winesap Records. Pick up a copy HERE.
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