On the surface, “Storm” is about a sailor getting lost in a storm at sea. Underneath, it is about something much closer to home. Rotterdam singer-songwriter Tom Hartman wrote it during one of the hardest periods of his life, just as hallucinations began and he feared he was losing his mind, and the song’s surreal imagery grew out of that. Released on October 16th, it is the third single of his year, following “I’ve Been Away” and “High Tree Climb.”
I am absolutely floored by this song, and I wish it were longer. It is a beautiful composition and arrangement, but it truly shines because of the execution. The tom grooves are dynamic and create beautiful tension in the verses, and the choruses sound big and grand. The backup vocals are so tasteful, and the main vocals are masterful.
The exceptional harmonica playing is what really made this song special for me. It is simply one of the best harmonica solos I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing, and the harmonica is just soaring. The drums, the acoustic guitars, and the backup vocals create the perfect landscape for it to fly against.
That landscape follows the song’s story. Hartman has described the arrangement as a storm in sound, with the drums as thunder and lightning, the bass rolling like waves and the acoustic guitars as the wooden ship trying to flee the chaos, all over a rolling, Celtic-tinged rhythm. He names Bob Dylan’s storytelling, the darker edge of Tom Waits, The Waterboys’ Celtic folk-rock and the haunting roots of 16 Horsepower as touchstones.
Hartman has spent years on the road as a one-man band, playing guitar, harmonica and stomp-box and performing hundreds of shows across Europe, and he produces his own music. His songs explore psychology, perception and existential themes, mixing personal confession with sharp observation, and “Storm” is a clear example of that approach. Two more singles are planned before the year ends, along with selected performances in Europe. If “Storm” is a fair guide, they are well worth waiting for.
