HARRIDAN

It's almost like they never left. Maybe it has something to do with being a Deadwing era cut brought back and updated like a once forgotten outtake from Bob Pollard's suitcase, but "Harridan" is the triumphant return of 2000's style PT in ways I'm sure no one expected. Much of the song is driven by a frenetic bassline that is at once impressive yet perplexing with the reformed PT being a trio sans Colin Edwin; is Wilson showing ever greater mastery of bass guitar, or use of effects petals to make one of his six strings into a spectacular analogue? As the track develops, both Wilson on guitar and Barbieri on the keys and synths switch between displays of power on the choruses, and quiet questioning and contemplation through the verses and bridges, following their mid-aughts formula to new heights. Harrison's drumwork remains as brilliant as ever across the cut as well. As to the lyrics, their fractured portraits of pain, loss, and cold death make for some of Wilson's best and most open-ended. They are quite befitting their original context of the almost-concept-album Deadwing in countless ways.

As for my final thoughts: considering how I among many other listeners have sought comparisons to Swilson's solo The Future Bites for the track (not to mention the aesthetics of the artwork), "Harridan" makes me think that TFB - however partially flawed - fits in more with PT than even I originally thought. Certainly any TFB elements in "Harridan" work spectacularly. And with the greatness and context of "Harridan", I am assured and excited for Closure/Continuation, which may yet be alike, and as wonderful if not more so, than Recordings.