Mick Harvey - Four Acts Of Love

cherylannwebster

Review by Cheryl-Ann Webster

Album Review: Mick Harvey’s Four Acts Of Love Alright, let’s talk about Mick Harvey’s Four Acts Of Love. Released in 2013 on Mute Records, this album is a bit of a slow-burner but man, does it stick with you. It’s not your typical pop or rock record—Harvey blends genres like Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, and Alternative/Indie Rock into something that feels deeply personal yet kinda universal. And yeah, he wears a lot of hats here: vocals, keyboards, drums, percussion, acoustic guitar—you name it. Dude even did some photography for the cover art. Props to him for wearing all those creative hats without dropping one. The album has this sprawling, theatrical vibe—it’s split into acts and parts, almost like a play. Tracks weave together themes of love, loss, time, and nature, which sounds heavy (and it kinda is), but there’s beauty in how Harvey pulls it off. Let me break down two tracks that really stuck with me. First up: “Summertime in New York”. This song pops up multiple times across the album, each version giving it a slightly different twist. The first rendition (“Act 1 - Summertime in New York, Pt. 1: Praise the Earth (Wheels of Amber and Gold)”) starts things off with this warm, nostalgic tone. JP Shilo’s violin adds this haunting layer over Harvey’s understated vocals. It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be—it just sinks into your brain. Later versions build on that foundation, adding layers until it becomes this rich tapestry of sound. Honestly, by the end, I felt like I’d lived through an entire season in NYC myself. Not bad for a guy from Australia, right? Then there’s “Wild Hearts Run Out of Time”, specifically “Pt. 2: Wild Hearts.” Man, this track hits hard. There’s a raw urgency to it, like Harvey’s trying to capture something fleeting before it slips away. His lyrics are poetic but grounded, talking about wild hearts chasing dreams or whatever, and it feels real. Like, you can tell he means every word. Rosie Westbrook’s double bass gives it this steady heartbeat rhythm while the electric guitar sneaks in with these sharp little stabs of emotion. By the time it fades out, you’re left wondering where the hell all that intensity came from. One thing worth mentioning is the production. Harvey worked with engineer David McCluney and mastering guru Wez Prichter, and they nailed it. Everything sounds crisp but still organic, like you’re sitting in the room with the band. You can hear every strum, every breath—it’s intimate as hell. So yeah, Four Acts Of Love isn’t gonna blow your socks off with flashy hooks or big beats. But if you’re into albums that make you think and feel at the same time, this one’s worth a spin. Plus, who else is gonna write songs about fairy dust AND hammers in the same project? Only Mick Harvey, folks. Random thought to leave you with: Listening to this album feels like flipping through someone’s old photo album. Each track is a snapshot, frozen in time, but somehow alive too. Weird, huh?

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: mick-harvey-four-acts-of-love.zip
  • MP3 size: 165 mb
  • FLAC size: 1155 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
I Wish That I Were Stone1:34
Act 1 - Summertime in New York, Pt. 3: Midnight on the Ramparts02:16
Act 1 - Summertime in New York, Pt. 1: Praise the Earth (Wheels of Amber and Gold)02:13
Glorious3:27
God Made the Hammer2:39
Act 2 - The Story of Love, Pt. 2: I Wish That I Were Stone01:34
Summertime In New York
Praise the Earth (Wheels of Amber and Gold)2:12
Praise The Earth (An Ephemeral Play)
Act 3 - Wild Hearts Run Out of Time. Pt. 4: Praise the Earth (An Ephemeral Play)04:05
Where There's Smoke (before)1:26
Where There's Smoke (Before)
A Drop, An Ocean1:14
Midnight On The Ramparts
Act 3 - Wild Hearts Run Out of Time. Pt. 2: Wild Hearts03:53
Act 1 - Summertime in New York, Pt. 5: Where There's Smoke (Before)01:26
Fairy Dust1:44
Wild Hearts3:53
Act 1 - Summertime in New York, Pt. 2: Glorious03:27
The Story Of Love
Act 2 - The Story of Love, Pt. 1: God Made the Hammer02:39
Summertime in New York3:15
Act 1 - Summertime in New York, Pt. 4: Summertime in New York03:15
Praise the Earth (An Ephemeral Play)4:8
Act 3 - Wild Hearts Run Out of Time. Pt. 1: Where There's Smoke (After)01:32
The Way Young Lovers Do2:48
Midnight on the Ramparts2:16
The Story of Love3:35
Where There's Smoke (after)1:32
Act 3 - Wild Hearts Run Out of Time. Pt. 3: Fairy Dust01:43
Praise The Earth (Wheels Of Amber And Gold)
Where There's Smoke (After)
God Made The Hammer

Video

Mick Harvey - Wild Hearts
Mick Harvey - God Made the Hammer (with lyric sub-titles)
Mick Harvey FOUR (acts of love)
Mick Harvey - FOUR (Acts of Love) - Extracts from Act 1
Mick Harvey - Praise the Earth (An Ephemeral Play) (with lyric sub-titles)
Mick Harvey-Glorious
Mick Harvey - Summertime in New York (Listening Version)
Mick Harvey - I Wish That I Were Stone

Images

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Catalog Numbers

  • STUMM353
  • CDSTUMM353, 50999 9 34732 2 4, MUT 69568

Labels

Mute

Listen online

  • escuchar en línea
  • online anhören
  • ascolta in linea
  • online luisteren
  • ouvir online
  • kuunnella verkossa
  • lyssna på nätet
  • lytte på nettet
  • écouter en ligne

Formats

  • CDr
  • Album
  • Promo
  • Vinyl
  • LP
  • Album CD
  • CD

Companies

RoleCompany
Recorded AtGrace Lane
Published ByMute Song

Credits

RoleCredit
Double BassRosie Westbrook
Electric GuitarJP Shilo
ViolinJP Shilo
EngineerDavid McCluney
Mastered ByWez Prichter
PhotographyJohn A. Davis
ProducerMick Harvey
VocalsMick Harvey
KeyboardsMick Harvey
DrumsMick Harvey
PercussionMick Harvey
Acoustic GuitarMick Harvey
Photography ByMick Harvey

Notes

  • Picture cover promo in plastic wallet
  • Includes copy of the CD
  • US UPC and catalogue number are printed on a removable sticker that is affixed over the international UPC.
  • CD housed in cardboard gatefold sleeve.
  • © 2013 Mick Harvey under exclusive license to Mute Artists Ltd.

Barcodes

  • Barcode: 509999343217
  • Barcode (EU): 5099993473224
  • Barcode (US): 724596956823

About Mick Harvey

Australian musician, born 29 August 1958 in Rochester, Victoria, Australia.

Real Name

    • Michael John Harvey

Name Vars

  • Harv
  • Harvey
  • Harvey Michael John
  • M Harvey
  • M. Harvey
  • M.Harvey
  • MicM Harvey
  • Michael Harvey
  • Michael John Harvey
  • Mick
  • MickHarvey
  • Mike Harvey

Aliases

  • Spencer Turk
  • Dick Strum
  • Howie Dewitt
  • Frank Leer
  • Ralf Bellow
  • Scatman Cramden
  • Dicky Russcombe

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: Mick Harvey, the mastermind behind *Four Acts of Love*, played nearly every instrument on the album himself. From drums and electric guitar to keyboards and even double bass, he wore multiple hats in the studio. But here’s the kicker—despite handling so much of the music himself, he still brought in a few key collaborators, like Rosie Westbrook on double bass and JP Shilo on violin and electric guitar. It’s like a one-man band with a little help from some talented friends. The result? A rich mix of pop, rock, and alternative sounds that feels both personal and expansive.

Comments

sandydohertybigara
sandydohertybigara
2025-03-11
you play guitar best, in my humble opinion...thank you for the music, Rachel dancer
hunterxanderson
hunterxanderson
2025-03-11
So wonderful!
abdulmuid765
abdulmuid765
2025-03-10
So, so beautiful Mick...thank you x
ugecamym
ugecamym
2025-03-09
What a beautiful and tender song! Filled with a deep lyricism.
alicebeason
alicebeason
2025-03-08
i love this bloke and you know it!
jradaker
jradaker
2025-03-08
guys, is there a way to find lyrics for the song, and why is it referenced as a cover, i never found an original if there is one
priyansi133
priyansi133
2025-03-08
primer encuentro con su música y ya me cautivo
carloslaritirata
carloslaritirata
2025-03-08
α ρε electronikaki, εισαι χρονια μπροστα! ειναι δισκαρα! τελος.-
inexistenciadesentido
inexistenciadesentido
2025-03-08
Mick! MICK! please come play in San Francisco! This song is amazing, and I really want to hear the rest of the disc. I have your other albums, and I have harbored great respect for you throughout the Bad Seeds era as, The Rock who anchored everything. This is just beautiful. Congratulations on another fantastic release. I look forward to them all!
vanessajefferson1995
vanessajefferson1995
2025-03-07
"It could be yours or mine.
It happens all the time.
Wild hearts run out of time.

It could be yours or mine.
It happens all the time.
Wild hearts run out of time.
Wild hearts run out of time... "
kikiofmountparnassus
kikiofmountparnassus
2025-03-07
Aah how wonderful to my ears and eyes..thankyou for coming to Auckland and an enormous gracias for putting my name on door ..was a privilege to be there and experience you live with the unintoxicated ..intoxicated men .. bought copy of shots of love.. vinyl .. beautiful ? Aroha from Nz
kitesamling
kitesamling
2025-03-07
thank you for the music..<3
bomobu
bomobu
2025-03-07
Oops where did that come from 'Acts of love' not 'shots' ?