How a search for a specific dulcimer helped shape a pop masterpiece
In short: When Harry Styles recorded his second album, Fine Line, he wasn't just chasing hits. He was chasing a specific sound, tracing the lineage of Joni Mitchell and David Bowie through vintage instruments and psychedelic influences to create a record about the tension between heartbreak and euphoria.
Released on 13 December 2019, Fine Line arrived as a massive commercial force. An initial 478,000 album-equivalent units propelled the record to the top of the US Billboard 200, representing the most significant debut by a British male singer since the inception of Nielsen SoundScan. The album's sonic palette is a dense tapestry of pop rock, psychedelic pop, soul, and funk, driven by the production of Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon. The record's success was remarkably consistent, maintaining its position at the top of the US charts for two consecutive weeks. In the United States, the album eventually earned a triple platinum certification from the RIAA, representing over three million units sold.
The album's texture was deeply influenced by 1970s folk and rock. Seeking to emulate the style of Joni Mitchell’s 1971 album Blue, Styles tracked down Joellen Lapidus, the builder of the dulcimer used on that seminal record. This led to the acquisition of the Crying Seahorse dulcimer for the album's sessions. Other influences ranged from the songwriting of Van Morrison to the disco-inflected energy of David Bowie. Beyond the folk influences, the track "Golden" was specifically inspired by the songwriting of Northern Irish artist Van Morrison. The production also drew from the disco-influenced sounds of artists like Paul Simon and Harry Nilsson.
While the album achieved significant accolades, including a Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Watermelon Sugar," critical reception was nuanced. While some praised its 'tour-de-force' production and 'nontoxic masculinity,' others, such as Pitchfork's Jeremy D. Larson, found the songwriting shallow despite the incredible sound. The record remains a study in contradictions, exploring themes of sex, sadness, and the 'fine line' between them. The album's marketing featured an elaborate, fictional tourism campaign for the isle of Eroda. This creative world-building even included a private listening event held in Los Angeles for dedicated fans.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Fine Line (Harry Styles album)
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