Harry Hochman’s plaintive yet intelligently crafted songs included on Inside Out percolated for several lifetimes before Hochman wrote and recorded each composition. The title song from his debut album, due for release on October 6th, 2023, reflects Hochman’s long journey from a Detroit, Michigan upbringing to Southern California’s sunny climes and an eventual career in law. He doesn’t bring any of the literal-mindedness common to attorneys into his musical endeavor, however, instead giving vent to a very different side of his character. “Inside Out” and Hochman’s other material draw inspiration from Laurel Canyon singer/songwriter vibes from an older era while embracing modern production and timelessly relevant lyrical content.
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It’s a song surging with life from its opening seconds. “Inside Out” never tries biting off any more than it can chew. It does, however, throw its figurative arms open wide for listeners and envelops you with an all-pervading sound that moves with purpose. Chris Murphy’s mandolin contributions set an early tone, without question, but it’s interesting how it never grounds “Inside Out” in a rural style. It’s a leavening melodic touch, inside, and gives “Inside Out” a brighter gait than it might otherwise possess.
The full band doesn’t immediately enter the frame. Hochman, however, commands the song with able skill when the full arrangement begins cooking and the occasional double-tracked vocal adornments heard along the way further expand the song’s scope. The arrangement benefits, as well, from occasional flourishes peppering the progression, but none of them are ever too pronounced. Hochman does an excellent job incorporating a bevy of stylistic touches into this performance without any single one standing out above the rest.
“Inside Out” has a strong chorus as well. The refrain stands out enough that it isn’t a stretch believing this will prove an abiding strength of the album on the whole. Hochman doesn’t attack this passage of the song the same way twice and the subtle variations he invests the chorus with lift the song up. It’s an overall perfect marriage of pace, singing, instrumentation, and lyrics. “Inside Out”, as the album’s title song, likely aims to be a definitive statement of sorts and meets the bill. It’s all the more impressive that Hochman pulls that off without the track ever sounding overwrought.
Chris Murphy’s playing contributions are important. His production talents, however, are essential to the final shape of Harry Hochman’s “Inside Out”. Murphy frames Hochman’s talents in vivid sonic light and maintains an even balance between the assorted strands merging to make “Inside Out” a finished product. Hochman has found other collaborators, as well, to help realize this song to its fullest but, in the end, it begins with him.
His talents have cooked for a long time and, better late than never, sport the veteran shine that belies this being his first album release. Hochman isn’t finished, however; we aren’t hearing the full range of his capabilities. “Inside Out”, however, is a song from a human being who has experienced a wide range of life and rewards anyone attentive enough to hear it out.
Garth Thomas