The Inevitable and I
The Inevitable and I makes a wide, atmospheric sound feel closely connected to melody. HRVRD, recording here under their earlier name Harvard, combine flowing guitars, active rhythms and Jesse Clasen's high singing with a strong sense of movement. The arrangements have plenty of detail, but the voice gives the music an inviting centre.
On With Disease establishes the band's energy through its guitar melody, bass and firm drumming. French Girls then expands the setting, moving between a more relaxed groove and stronger passages. A quieter stretch gives Clasen room before the band increases the force again, making the changing volume feel like part of the song's character.
That relationship between restraint and release runs through much of the album. Hands to Hesitate builds towards an especially effective closing section, with the rhythm parts giving the vocal melody a more forceful setting. The playing has enough weight to support the emotion without reducing the song to a single repeated heavy figure.
Ghost takes a more direct route, keeping its guitar ideas and melodies moving forward. The differences help the record remain engaging even when several songs share a similar combination of effects, singing and rhythmic activity.
Clasen's range is a major strength, but the instruments also deserve attention. The guitar parts can sound smooth and spacious before becoming much more forceful, while the drumming adds detail beneath the main melody. The band generally keep those contributions connected rather than treating the arrangement as a competition for space.
The main weakness is length. Across fourteen tracks, the record has stretches where the pace drops and the music becomes less memorable. The instrumental Tenebroso and some of the longer later passages could be tightened without losing the album's identity. The quieter closing title track provides a gentler finish, though it arrives after a considerable journey.
Those limits leave an impressive debut with room for refinement. The Inevitable and I balances a dreamy setting with a strong melodic sense, and its best changes in intensity feel carefully placed. The band's influences are recognisable, but their shared direction gives the music a character worth exploring.
