Lifeline, a collection of eleven clean-cut tracks from Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, won't drench fans in guiltless crime quite like its predecessor-Both Sides of the Gun-the band's marathon double-disc release in 2006.
And yet, despite the safe road it rides, there's something about this classy little album-a certain effortless grandiosity-that proves itself memorable.
For starters, it was recorded and mixed entirely in Paris over the course of a single week. Adhering strictly to live technique, the band refrained from using Pro Tools or other digital recording paraphernalia.
This preface lends a prophetic, romantic narrative to this storybook record before a single note is heard.
Stand-out tracks "Put It On Me" and "Say You Will" are reminiscent of the "After Midnight" party from the school of Eric Clapton, as percussionist Leon Mobley serves up the tambourine and a duo of female backup vocalists add sugar to the spice.
Following the tastefully tired intro "Fight Outta You," "In the Colors" plays like a ready-made Criminals classic. Its amiable simplicity and sentiment usher in the timeless mid-tempo foot-tap Harper could muster in his sleep.
Harper sings, "And all will be right/dancing like water with the light/dance with me into the colors/of the dusk."
It's a far stray from the politically charged "Both Sides," where the dominant inspirations are tales of confusion and disgust. This change of pace is, if nothing else, a splash of refreshment.
Unfortunately for some, the heavily distorted slide guitar that epitomized Harper's earlier years continues to fly by the wayside of his studio recordings.
It seems that ever since the California native collaborated "There Will Be a Light" with the Blind Boys of Alabama in 2003, he continuously chooses a cleaner soul-funk that doesn't care much for a metal onslaught.
Harper waits for the sweet au revoir to spotlight his signature acoustic slide, where he picks away at the solo instrumental "Paris Sunrise #7." Listeners may almost visualize the bittersweet smiles of accomplishment on Harper's band member faces, moments before they re-don their instruments for a "Lifeline" entitled departure from their stay in the City of Love.
