The Current

Great Music Lives Here ®
Listener-Supported Music
Donate Now
Discover Music

Har-di-Har return from a personal and musical separation

Har-di-Har 'we will will you' cover
Har-di-Har 'we will will you' coverMatthew Pariseau
  Play Now [4:32]

by Cecilia Johnson

August 24, 2017

Ever grow attached to a fledgling band, only to realize they've dropped off the face of the earth? In the two years since Andrea Swensson named them one of the "10 new Twin Cities bands to watch," I'd given up on more music from husband-and-wife duo Har-di-Har. Their skittish, harmony-soaked EP We Are | They Are remained in my personal rotation, though -- so when I opened my inbox to find new music from the band, I jumped to hear the file. Then I jumped to share it here.

Julie and Andrew Thoreen stepped back from the stage to rebuild their personal relationship, assembling their new album, we will will you, in the thick of conflict and reconciliation. In "I Will Go Slow," the Thoreens admit, "I don't know how to go slow." But like always, they recommit: "I'll stick on your side. I will go slow." They write, "we will will you hopes that if two people on the edge can bring it back, maybe more can too."

Theirs has been a tough personal rift but an enjoyable musical journey. A trombone choir and background vocals curl around the music's spare skeleton. Fans of Sylvan Esso should enjoy Har-di-Har's folk components and frantic beats.

we will will you comes out Sept. 29 with an Oct. 6 Icehouse release party. To hear "We Must Stand Up" off the new album, click here.