Curtis Harding: Departures & Arrivals – Adventures Of Captain Curt [Album Review]

Curtis Harding
Departures & Arrivals: Adventures Of Captain Curt
ANTI- [2025]

“Curtis Harding blasts soul into orbit without losing sight of the groove.”

Album Overview: Curtis Harding grew up steeped in music, first singing gospel with his mom in church while soaking up soul, R&B, hip-hop, and alternative rock at home. His career kicked off at LaFace Records in Atlanta, later leading him to tour as a backing singer for CeeLo Green. Harding broke out solo with Soul Power (2014), but it was Face Your Fear (2017) that put him on bigger festival stages. His last record, If Words Were Flowers (2021), cemented him as one of today’s essential soul voices. Now he’s back with his most ambitious project yet: Departures & Arrivals: The Adventures of Captain Curt. Self-produced and imagined as part personal reflection, part sci-fi journey, the album tells the story of a pilot searching for a way home. Cosmic imagery frames themes of distance, disconnection, and resilience, but don’t get too lost in the concept—Harding keeps the grooves front and center on every track.

Musical Style: This album is a kaleidoscope: space-funk struts, symphonic soul, psych-rock bursts, and lush pop flourishes. Harding cut most of it live with a full band, layering in Steve Hackman’s string arrangements for extra sweep. The blend is seamless—classic soul roots collide with modern textures, horns punch through, guitars shimmer, and the rhythm section keeps things grounded. Through it all, Harding’s voice remains the anchor: raw, flexible, and endlessly expressive.

Evolution of Sound: By taking full control of production, Harding circles back to his earliest DIY instincts while leveling up the details. Where Face Your Fear had sleek polish and If Words Were Flowers carried an intimate warmth, Departures & Arrivals shoots for something bigger—a widescreen, cinematic scope. It’s theatrical but not bloated, alive with live-band energy while still sculpted with care. Harding sounds comfortable exploring these grander landscapes without losing his identity as a soul singer.

Artists with Similar Fire: You’ll catch flashes of Charles Bradley and Lee Fields in Harding’s emotional delivery, while the expansive scope nods to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On and Isaac Hayes at his most orchestral. For modern comparisons, think Michael Kiwanuka, Leon Bridges, or Black Pumas—artists blurring vintage soul with contemporary edge.

Pivotal Tracks: “There She Goes” kicks off with sweeping strings, setting the scene with cinematic drama. “Time” rides bright horns and call-and-response vocals into an uplifting anthem. “The Power” is disco heat with teeth, its glittering groove carrying sharp political bite. The closer, “Running Outta Space,” dials the energy down for a reflective finale, tying the cosmic narrative back to Harding’s own search for connection. Together, these tracks show his knack for merging message and melody without missing the groove.

Lyrical Strength: Harding writes about yearning, perseverance, and holding onto hope when you’re drifting. He uses space travel as a metaphor for the emotional distance that comes with touring and modern life, but the heart of these songs stays grounded—love, separation, and resilience. On tracks like “The Power,” political urgency sneaks into the mix, keeping the record as much about real-world struggle as personal reflection.

Final Groove: Departures & Arrivals is both Curtis Harding’s boldest swing and one of his most consistent listens. It’s an album that wears its concept lightly while delivering grooves heavy enough to stick. The mix of cosmic storytelling, raw soul fire, and lush production proves Harding isn’t just a student of tradition—he’s pushing it forward. Four records in, he sounds more confident than ever, and if this is just the latest chapter of Captain Curt’s journey, the next one is bound to fly even higher.

CURTIS HARDING REVIEW HISTORY
If Words Were Flowers (2021) / Face Your Fear (2017) / Soul Power (2014)

CURTIS HARDING LINKS
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | ANTI-