Brief biography of Stephen Harrison. 

He was born in London in 1959 and attended school there in Wimbledon, and then secondary school in the Yorkshire Dales. After a year at Nelson And Colne College attending a Foundation Course in Art and Design, he went to Edinburgh in 1978, and the Edinburgh College Of Art where he studied Drawing and Painting for three years. After college, he remained in Edinburgh and until 2007, supported himself with jobs in public transport and then retail. Since 2007, he has concentrated entirely on music and still lives in Edinburgh.

Writing songs has always been an important part of his self expression. He began writing songs whilst at school in the Yorkshire Dales, and as a sixteen year old, performed at local folk clubs in the area. In Edinburgh in 1978 he was a member of Edinburgh 'post-punk' band Metropak, in which he played guitar, sang and was co-writer of the material along with other members of the group. Metropak were part of the thriving music scene in Edinburgh at the time, and the three records that the group released have, along with those produced by other bands of that era, become sought after and cherished. 

After Metropak, he was involved in several other bands and musical projects for a few years including a solo album in 1988. He eventually focused on being a solo writer and performer. In 2007 he created his own record label called Close Up Records UK, which has released five solo albums by Stephen Harrison, the latest of which is called 'Today Tomorrow'.

The musical journey that he has travelled on so far began with songwriting influenced by the sounds of the very late sixties and early seventies bands and individuals such as Simon And Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Donovan, John Lennon, Cat Stevens, Leonard Cohen, George Harrison. 

A definite change came about in the late seventies whilst a member of Metropak, whose sounds could be said to have been influenced by the likes of The Clash, The Fall, Pere Ubu, and The B52's for example. The angular, unpredictable 'deconstructed' and rhythmic sound that characterised the Metropak songs were in stark contrast to his earlier 'dreamy' songwriting. 

In the eighties and nineties there were less successful connections with the synthetic, drum machine orientated and romantic sounds of that time. Eventually, coming full circle in some ways, Stephen Harrison has returned, at least for the time being, to acoustic guitar based songwriting, mainly without any synthetic sounds. The latest songs could be described as belonging in the so called 'Indie, contemporary folk, singer songwriter' genres. If his journey involved taking apart and questioning various types of song writing, he has, in his maturity, 'put it all back together' in his own style and created, so he hopes, his own unique sound.

In recent years he has developed has own personal style of songwriting that has emphasis on strong melody and hook lines, clear and emotional vocals with lyrics that alternate between the personal and the universal, and arrangements that feel right to him and to each song rather than a verse/chorus formula. He is currently releasing his material on his own label called Close Up Records UK and over the last five years has released five albums, the latest of which is 'Today Tomorrow', which is an album of ten songs written and recorded in 2011. 

The songs represent a strong and positive development in his songwriting and a movement away from electric guitars and drum machines and towards acoustic guitar orientated arrangements. Click here to go to Stephen Harrison's webpage where the new album can be heard. 

Discography of  Stephen Harrison :

1979 : Metropak single : You're A Rebel, Ok Let's Go, Run Run Run. PAK records (001)
1979 : Metropak Single : Walking, Here's Looking At You. PAK records (002)
1981 : Rhythm Of Life 7'' single. Soon - Summertime. Rational Records (Rate 6)
1984 : 'Edinburgh' A 9 track CD album, by Heyday (from Edinburgh) which was a band in which he was the singer and songwriter in 1984/5 in Edinburgh. This release comprises studio and live recordings made at that time and not released until 2010. Close Up Records Uk (close 003)
1986 :  The Rough With The Smooth. 12'' compilation album. Includes Stephen Harrison's song Sad And Blue. Les Disques Du Crepuscule. (TWI 651)
1988 :  'I Know Everything'. 12'' Mini album. Sad And Blue, Let Go, Pack On Your Back. Never Say Die, Winter Sun, Love Like This. Telquel 001. Re-released in CD format in 2011 by Close Up Records Uk (close 0014) and including a bonus track 'Glad It's Over', written and recorded in 1994.
2007 :  'The Fruit Of The Original Sin'. Double CD re-issue. Includes bonus tracks 'Soon' and 'Summertime'. LTM Records LTMCD2497
2007  : Chips For Supper. 19 track retrospective CD of Stephen Harrison songs. Close Up Records UK (Close 001)
2008  : 'Faded Colours' 12 track CD of songs written and recorded during 2007. Close Up records UK (Close 002)
2009  :  'We Face Extinction' 7 track Cd . Close Up Records UK (Close 006). Available on  many of the digital retailers such as iTunes and Napster and also as a physical CD.
2010. : 'The Colour Of Black Is black' 8 track CD album .Close Up Records UK (Close 011)
2010  : A song called 'Nobody There' written and performed by Stephen Harrison included on 'Seldom True' a CD album by Karen Edward. Close Up Records UK (Close 012).
2011 : 'I Know Everything' -  CD and digital re-issue of the 1988 vinyl album. Close Up Records UK (close 014)
2012 : 'Today Tomorrow'. Ten track CD album and digital release of new songs written and recorded by Stephen Harrison. Close Up Records Uk (close 015). Release date to be confirmed.

1. Soon
2. Summertime

Various artists. Track Three : Stephen Harrison : Sad And Blue 

1. Let Go

2. Pack On Your Back

3. Sad And Blue

4. Never Say Die

5. Winter Sun

6. Love Like This

1. Never Say Die
2. Call You On Sunday
3. Against It All
4. Close Down
5. Johny's Land
6. Emotional One
7. Glad It's Over
8. Help Us With The Pain
9. Never Go Home
10. Love Is A Crazy Game
11. Pack On Your Back
12. Not Really Broken
13. Pull Up A Chair
14. Sad And Blue
15. Losing Everything You Own
16. You Don't Know Me Anymore
17. World Of Shame
18. Winter Sun
19. Lucky Moon 

Remastered 2xCD edition of the 1981 compilation from Les Disques Du Crepuscule (TWI 035) with the songs 'Soon'' and 'Summertime' included as bonus tracks.

1. Wonderful Life
2. Girl Came Home
3. Phoning In Sick
4. Lonely Street
5. Tomorrow
6. Love's easy Tonight
7. Very Bright Last Night
8. Crystal Blue Eyes
9. Tiny Tiny World
10. Goodbye
11. Crazy
12. Movie Star

1. We Face Extinction
2. She Certainly Was
3. Garbo Smiles
4. Not Shadows On The Wall
5. Leaving Town Tomorrow
6. The Great Artist
7. Together

1. The Colour Of Black Is Black
2. My Song
3. Little Bird
4. Somewhere High
5. The Way
6. Summer Song
7. Undiscovered And Alien
8. Wilderness Years
9. When Darkness Comes


All songs written by Stephen Harrison except 'Summer Song', written by Stephen Harrison and Karen Edward

1. Today Tomorrow
2. Imagination
3. Graffiti On A Wall
4. Don't Cry
5. Sphinx City
6. And If
7. Looking Back
8. Shoegaze People
9. River Of Time
10. Nobody There

All songs written and recorded by Stephen Harrison.

Review of 'The Colour Of Black Is Black'
Album Review by Stafford Davis. Published 5th January 2011.

In the sense that the right amount of imperfection is perfection, Stephen Harrison has achieved this quandary of an artistic feat on his newest release, The Colour Of Black Is Black.  Born in London and transplanted to Edinburgh while still a teenager in the late ‘70s, Harrison embraced the punk and new wave movement in full force as a member of the group, Metropak.  Since leaving the band in 1979, Harrison has busied himself as a singer/songwriter exploring introspective themes that resonate with the common populace of his surroundings.  On The Colour Of Black Is Black, Harrison’s command of his craftsmanship is evident on every song in both performance and composition.  The album has a rough quality that implies it was recorded alone at home, with minimal instrumentation and production.  The sparseness of the music combined with Harrison’s David Bowie and Nick Cave influenced vocals give the album a closed in feeling that, along with the photographs of an icy lake and adjoining cold landscapes found in the CD artwork, comfort the listener in the same fashion that the warmth of a rural cabin would comfort a cold traveler.  Here, the warm reprieve from that harsh environment is the deeply personified and honest music of Stephen Harrison.

On the title track and first song, acoustic guitars and an odd sounding drum machine prepare the way for Harrison’s dark, yet comforting vocals.  The first verse, “When all around is cold / And all around is closed / And everything turns to grey / And smoke fills the city / And all that I know runs away / And the colour of black is black” reaffirms the somber front cover with a mood that points toward loneliness.  In fact, the song feels like a drifter passing through a small town on an overcast day where everything is shut down for a holiday to everyone but him.  Such are the inferences when the delivery is so succinct and dead on.

The music on “Little Bird” has subtle jazz inflections underneath its surface in the same way that Van Morrison songs like, “Into the Mystic” and “Philosopher’s Stone” do.  The playing is loose and at times, in regard to the piano, trepidacious.  This, and Harrison’s wavering voice, is the cracks on the surface of high quality.  Acknowledging the music’s weakness with human frailty gives the song an imperfect and human value that only appears sporadically and usually by accident in the arts.  “Somewhere High” and “Summer Song” both offer a brief break in the clouds allowing some sunny skies to be seen on The Colour Of Black Is Black.  On “Somewhere High,” Harrison sings in his best early ‘80s Bowie voice of dancing and flying; “Fly away with me / Into the sun / Fly away with me / Somewhere high.”  “Summer Song” evokes the season in its name as well as, preserving friendships and cherishing good times.

Rounding out Harrison’s eleven-song journey, is “When Darkness Comes.”  Though not as bleak as the title suggests, the song does touch on themes of loneliness and yearning as well as, uncertainty and risk.  Sung in his clearly articulated baritone, Harrison perfectly communicates the human condition in a way that everyone over time can empathize with.

Not many independent, or professional artists for that matter achieve the kind of artistry found on The Colour Of Black Is Black.  In a career that’s spanned over thirty years, Stephen Harrison has carefully honed his talent to the much-coveted position of dignified imperfection.  His somber testament is in many ways reminiscent of Bob Dylan’s classic, Blood On The Tracks.  In every way that Dylan’s record is genuine, honest, and individualistic, Harrison’s album is too.  With his stylistic new wave leanings and folk deliveries, Harrison is a man that has arrived at his own niche of originality, and this is expertly communicated to his audience on The Colour Of Black Is Black.

Review by Stafford Davis
Rating:  5 stars (out of 5)

Stephen Harrison, my old Edinburgh friend & bandmate from long ago (Heyday, mid-80s) recently sent me his new CD, "The Colour of Black is Black". It got put in a to-do pile for a while, but I've dug it out & am listening to it. 

Despite the title and the somewhat stark gray tones on the front cover, this is not the melancholy work I was suspecting when I unwrapped it. The songs for the most part balance melancholy, sadness and introspection with a light and airy feel, reflecting a certain amount of happiness and positive feelings. Lyrically, there is also a sense of happiness that has not always been present in Stephen's words. This is probably due to the presence in his life of singer Karen Edward who co-wrote "Summer Song" with him, & seems to be having an uplifting effect upon his spirit. Musically, the album is quite varied, covering a spectrum from acoustic folk-tinged songs to somewhat harsher soundscapes ("The Way" in particular). 


I like the way the instruments are layered: electric (jangly) guitar, acoustic, guitar, keyboards. All the songs are sung & played by Stephen. There is a drum machine, but its main function is to supply a basic beat and mostly not much else, which renders it a pulse, a heartbeat, to the music. Stephen's voice is in fine form, with what seems like more emotional range than usual, or at least more of the emotions are positive this time. All nine songs on the CD are strong, no filler that I can see/hear. All in all, a very thoughtful, eloquent album by a mature artist, & worth repeated listens.

Track-by-track impressions:

1. The Colour of Black is Black (3:34)
A folk-tinged song with prominent acoustic guitar & occasional keyboards. It gives the impression that it's going to be low-key, but then soars into joy from time to time.

2. My Song (2:29)
Slightly downbeat, but with a swing. A yearning love song. Some nice multitracked guitar work.

3. Little Bird (3:35)
Upbeat piano intro over a lively beat. Deliberately uses lyrical cliches to good effect. A happy love song. Could be a minor classic.

4. Somewhere High (2:11)
Another yearning love song. Nice low-key guitar work. Soaring keyboards in the background lift the song in its second half. A little on the short side.

5. The Way (3:49)
The album's center point & a possible masterpiece of relative simplicity. Repetitive to very good effect. A whirlpool of sound that pulls you in. Ominous. Darker and more electronic than much of Stephen's work. The vibrato guitar near the end is a good touch.

6. Summer Song (with words by Karen Edward) (3:52)
Happy acoustic guitar. Simple words. Folky. A feel-good song, relatively. Lots of space in this one. There is a hint of sadness in the background somehow.

7. Undiscovered and Alien (4:54)
Starts off dark and alienated. However, it starts to climb from its well of sadness and takes on a more nurturing tone. There are some beautiful melodic guitar fragments in here. Love transcends all.

8. Wilderness Years (3:34)
Guitar in the beginning sounds a little like birds. Yearning, but with love and happiness. Soulmates in the sun. Love and romance. Dancing with electric shoes.

9. When Darkness Comes (3:12)
Acoustic intro. Sparse. Plain and simple. A quiet beauty. Nice ending for the album.Posted by William T. Ayton at 12:29 PMLabels: stephen harrison, the colour of black is black

Source:  http://billayton.blogspot.com/2011/03/stephen-harrison-colour-of-black-is.html