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Most people know Frank Hart as the frontman for Texas art-metal band, Atomic Opera.  Human Liturgy, his first solo album (albeit with the Atomic Opera lineup backing him), catapults him to a new level.

Hart has a smooth, soothing voice (comparable to Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree) that was always a bit out of place with the distortion of Atomic Opera.  Human Liturgy provides the perfect setting to showcase Hart’s vocal skills, matching his voice with equally warm acoustic guitars, cellos, sitars, doumbeks and other exotic instruments.  Ironically, for his best vocal performance on this album, Hart uses what he calls a “Tom Waits scruff” to rise above the piano and flute on “Little One,” a prayer of blessing for his baby niece.

The album is well-paced and varied.  At least half of the songs are instantly memorable and all are distinct.  Most are slow, worshipful and ethereal.  Some evoke comparisons to the Doobie Brothers, Caedmon’s Call, Days of the New, or Jethro Tull.  A couple have heavy doses of bluegrass, and one strips down the Stone Temple Pilots “Plush” riff as the backbone for a country song.  And there’s the obligatory Atomic Opera-ish “A Girl With Rain.”

Human Liturgy is worth buying if only for “Confession,” a candidate for record of the year, inspired by Malachi’s accusations against the people of God and the repentance of the thief on the cross.  With the backdrop of exotic instruments, Hart pleads,

I have spoken death to my soul when I speak against You
And I have stood tall with the proud
I have believed there is no point in following and seeking for You
I have lived as though there is no God
I live as though there is no God

Lift these words up to the sky
Please remember me
Lift this prayer and hear this cry
Please remember me

Dan Singleton
November 13, 2005