The journey that soul man Bobby Harden had to take to arrive at his latest release is nothing short of a well-tuned movie script. Harden grew up in the humble town of Youngstown, Ohio, and followed his love of performance and soul music right to New York City where he began coming into his own as a vocalist and on-stage presence on the wedding circuit. Then, he met Billy Aukstik, one of modern music’s most prolific and talented producers, who had just launched his new label, Dala Records. Aukstik saw what so many others had already noticed in Harden and pieced together a formidable backing who could keep up with the fiery delivery and elastic tones of Harden, we now know them as The Soulful Saints. Harden, Aukstik, and The Soulful Saints then retreated into the studio to create the album we have before us today. Bridge Of Love is a 10-track memoir into the inner workings of Harden’s soulfulness as the crooner attacks many of the genre’s phases over the decades, showcasing the power of his band and Aukstik’s impressive production work.
The album kicks off with the confident “It’s My Time”, which doubles as a sort of victory lap for Harden. After years of showing and proving his natural talents, Bridge of Love attempts to give us the full story of Bobby Harden and does so in an interesting way. While Harden’s lyrics may not feel autobiographical, they’re part of the full picture painted on Bridge of Love. a self-portrait of sorts. While Harden is not an outward storyteller like some of his soulful contemporaries, he tells his story through vague yet potent poetry and leans on his history with the genre to help piece together his life’s story. You can hear the first time he heard a soul record with a song like “Feels So Good” and, just like that, you’re transported to the moment Harden made the decision to head to New York City to pursue his dreams on the single “Runnin’ (To Get To Your Love)”. On the surface, Bridge of Love is a collection of impressive soul music that incorporates just enough modern elements to keep you guessing, but there is much more going on during these songs. Harden is attempting to portray every moment that led up to the release of his latest LP, and he does so with a subtle beauty that lays the concrete of his story down while allowing us to interpret his words on our own, making for a wildly entertaining listen outside of the obvious talent and time put into these arrangements.
Bridge of Love ties together uptempo Motown-esque hits and tear-jerking ballads, all anchored by the unwavering passion Harden puts behind his words. The Soulful Saints and Aukstik did not have an easy task in front of them, they had to achieve the perfect tones in their arrangements in order to keep up with the colorful creativity of Harden. While every producer goes into the studio hoping to achieve this, Aukstik stepped up to the plate with a fire in his eyes and a true understanding of not only Harden but the genre of soul as a whole. Accompanied by sweeping string sections and howling horns, Harden was gifted a sonic palette worthy of his voice and poetry. The way Bridge of Love transitions from slow-burning ballads that swell into blazing examples of mystic soul (title track) to minimal arrangements that keep a beautifully steady pace to emphasize their psychedelic qualities (“Butterfly”) makes the album such a mesmerizing listen. You never know what the next track is going to bring, the only guarantee is Harden’s demanding vocals and The Soulful Saints’ explosive playing.
Bobby Harden and The Soulful Saints could not have picked a more appropriate title for their new album. Bridge of Love attempts to shorten the gap between Harden’s past and his future, bridging his history in live performance with a new cast of collaborators who looked to bring that energy and press it up on wax. For 10 stunning tracks, Harden deploys his natural ability to bring all eyes on him through soaring vocal displays and lyrics that regale the plethora of stories the man has built up over his storied career, all backed by a band that pours just as much love into what they do as their fearless frontman. With Billy Aukstik at the helm, Bridge of Love redefines Bobby Harden as an artist by placing him in a well-deserving spotlight, a spotlight Harden would outshine on this release. The album is as layered as the man who voiced it and plays as an ode to Harden’s past while avoiding dwelling on it, all backed by gorgeous arrangements that scoff at complacency.
