Curtis Harding - Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt
This is Harding’s fourth full-length album. It’s a concept album built around a character “Captain Curt,” who journeys through space — metaphorical as much as literal — reflecting themes of longing, alienation, being far from home, and the search for connection and return.
Musically, Harding fuses retro soul (think Stax / Motown influences), lush string and horn arrangements, space-opera touches, and touches of psych, funk, and alternative soul. The production is elegant and expansive: symphonic strings (Steve Hackman contributed), vintage soul tones, and ambient / futuristic flourishes.
🎵 Track Listing & Sound Highlights
- There She Goes
- Out in the Black
- Banh Me
- Time
- Hard as Stone
- The Power
- True Love Can't Be Blind
- I’m With You
- Felt It Inside
- The Winter Soldier
- Running Outta Space
Metacritic score: 78/100 based on four reviews – generally favorable.
AllMusic praises its audacity and says Harding is “a major artist whose talents deserve a far wider audience.”
Publications like Uncut, Mojo point out especially strong moments (“Time,” “Out in the Black,” etc.) where emotional impact and production align beautifully.
Some criticism: at times the concept can feel a bit ambitious, or the pacing slightly uneven; some tracks more potent than others.
✨ What Makes It Special
Concept + scope: The space-voyage framing gives the album room to explore displacement, identity, nostalgia, and home — in a way that feels personal yet grand.
Blend of old and new: Harding pulls from classic soul heritage but doesn’t just replicate it — he adds modern textures, cinematic arrangements, and occasional touches of psychedelia / ambient, which gives texture and breadth.
Production & arrangements: The orchestration (strings, horns), the backing vocals, and the sonic environments feel richer than many modern soul albums; there’s a cinematic sense of place.
Emotional resonance: Themes of estrangement, longing, isolation (literal and metaphorical space), but also returning — these interweave to make it more than just a collection of songs.