Single Review: Harry Jay Robinson - Tight Ship

Leeds-based musician Harry Jay Robinson describes his solo work as having a ‘lo-fi aesthetic and dreamy production style.’ This description could not be truer of his latest single, ‘Tight Ship’ – the track is a slow, earnest, open discussion of the fear we feel stepping into the big, wide world, and it’s easy to relate to this feeling.

The mood of the track feels like the unexpected meeting point of Wretch 32’s more mellow work and Wolf Alice’s Visions of a Life. Robinson’s use of a simple backing beat paired with an acoustic guitar and some synths allows the listener to float along with the song, caught in an almost trance-like state that’s extremely hard to shake.

Robinson’s vocals and lyrics help with this: his singing voice is beautifully light, almost angelic, while his rapping is laidback almost to the point of relaxation – but when you pay attention to what he’s saying, you feel his worries. Thematically ‘Tight Ship’ falls perfectly in line with his first EP (Cold, released in January this year); it’s a song about vulnerability, loneliness, and the fears and stresses that come with trying to make something of ourselves.

There are no answers to be found in Robinson’s track, of course, but It’s strength is in knowing that others out there are feeling the same nervousness that he is – and right now, that’s enough. The track is perfect for those rainy afternoons spent curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea, as ‘Tight Ship’ feels like the warm blanket we need all too much at the minute - overall, an excellent single.

Words: Matt Taylor