Album Review: ‘Paradise & Hurricanes’ by High Valley

Releasing an EP after a member’s departure is always a stressful move in the music world. After all, it only takes one member who can make or break an album. But fortunately, High Valley shows fans that member Curtis Rempel is not needed to make a good impression. The band is originally from Blumenort, Alberta, and has a clear passion for making country music, starring Brad Rempel as the main vocalist. 

The album opens up with track one, “Fools.” This song is a good introduction to the album’s feel-good aesthetic; pairing classic country vocals with a melancholy instrumental. With a satisfying beat drop at the chorus, the lyrics follow a cliché narrative of suffering from heartbreak. Fortunately, the catchiness of the drums and well-produced guitar makes this track a standout, and a good first impression of the record. Early on, High Valley demonstrates their excellent capabilities in working together to blend their best talents into one, well-crafted song. 

“Good Things Go Goodbye” follows a different direction. More spunky in its production, the production is more creative, and experimental than “Fools.” And the chorus follows a synchronized beat pattern that is unique, and catchy. While lyrically not anything past generic, the overall structure of the song forgives this fault. Rempel carries emotions through his singing that makes even a standard line full of passion, emanating feelings of longing. Overall, it’s a good song that centres hope, and pride in a cohesive way. 

A ballad is an essential to any album; and the EP’s first one is “Living Right.” Interestingly, the lyrics recount a happy narrative that expresses gratitude, while the instrumental is melancholic in nature. This juxtaposition contributes to some discrepancy between happy messaging and sorrowful production, but overall creates an interesting experience of comfort, and peacefulness. While not the best song of the EP, it’s reasonable enough to still be enjoyable. 

The title track “Paradise & Hurricanes” disappointingly is the first miss of the EP. Lyrically, the song is underwhelming and arbitrary. Some lyrics even seem re-used from previous tracks because of the extremely close resemblance, and repetition of themes. Brenton’s vocals are on par with the other tracks, but do not save the song from being forgettable. As for production, the instrumental is good, but very typical and generic. Similarly track six, “Along For the Ride,” serves as filler, lacking star quality and individuality. 

The EP closes with a song of pride and anger. Fortunately, “I’m Leavin’ You” breaks the pattern of all the songs covering the same subjects. Instead of reveling in his gratitude or heartbreak, Brampton fuels his frustrations into this song, combining a nice drum pattern with high intensity production in the chorus. The song works as an effective closing track, as it fosters a unique atmosphere of releasing pent up emotions, and showing Brampton’s skilled vocality one final time.

With only six tracks and each being approximately three minutes long, Paradise & Hurricanes is strong in its first half, but begins to falter in its remaining tracks. For the most part, each song is strong in production, offering something new in ways that keeps audiences engaged. Instrumentals are fresh and refrain from being repetitive. They pair well with Brampton’s emotion-filled singing, and it’s clear he has a talent of portraying to listeners exactly what’s on his mind.

However, the band might need a new writer, as unfortunately, the EP suffers from repetitive lyricism. Almost every song tells the same story, and utilizes very similar lines and basic rhyme schemes. Overall, Paradise & Hurricanes is a good EP from an Albertan band, who clearly has passion for their craft, but simply lacks excellent lyricism. Even after leaving their former record label, and continuing without Curtis Rempel, the EP is a clear result of change done right.