When I first played this, I sat there for a while after it was over. I didn't switch to another song or check my phone. It's not something that happens that frequently with new music. Harry Kappen's Distant Shore is unique in that it forces you to take your time and listen.
The initial guitar sounds like it's coming from another room. It's near enough to see but far enough to be interesting. It was a quiet place that I wanted to return to. It does not seek your attention. It just provides you with space.
Harry's voice is soothing. He doesn't force or attempt to make the song larger than it is supposed to be. It's more of a thinking out loud than a performance. The mellotron is a reminder of old movies, empty airports, and somebody watching a plane fly away.
The song is about those who were forced to cross a path they didn't want to cross. Harry chose to come from the Netherlands to Mexico. He had time to get ready, to pack what was important, and to say goodbye. One can hear that he was thinking about this. It isn't a feeling of guilt, it's a feeling of knowing what others lost.
The production is also worth noting. All sounds are in their proper place and there is no crowding. The song has space to breathe and thus more meaning. Harry recorded and produced all of it himself, which is even more impressive. He keeps it under control, while a lot of home recordings add too much.
I've heard this song about six or seven times now. I always find myself thinking about my own crossings, what I missed out on, or what I didn't do. A job that I turned down or a place that I left too soon. That's what makes the song special. It attaches itself to whatever you're holding on to.
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