Hartshorn Serrano - Retail Reverie

​Hartshorn Serrano

Retail Reverie
monochrome motif records; 2025

By Jamie Funk
​

Andrew Hartshorn and John Serrano first connected in the way so many modern collaborations do—through mutual admiration online. Hartshorn, based in the UK, penned the lyrics, piano, and orchestral framework, while Spain’s Serrano layered in the guitars, bass, and a rich tapestry of vocals.

After forging a creative partnership, Serrano eventually signed to Hartshorn’s label, Monochrome Motif Records. Their latest collaboration, "Retail Reverie," distills their shared sensibilities into a lush, melodic pop-rock track that nods to ELO, 10cc, Paul McCartney, and even brushes of Elbow’s orchestral melancholy.

The song opens on a solitary piano, tracing delicate arpeggios before the bass, drums, and vocals unfold around it. Serrano’s vocal performance carries a deep emotional pull, threading a quiet sense of yearning through the arrangement. As the track gathers momentum, it blooms into something more expansive and cinematic, with layered harmonies and orchestral swells lifting it into widescreen territory. A syncopated guitar line snakes through the second verse, offering a subtle but effective contrast to the lushness surrounding it.

There’s a brief, atmospheric breakdown and if you listen closely and you’ll catch what sounds like field recordings woven into the mix. The he track then surges to a grand, radiant close. "Retail Reverie" feels both familiar and fresh, a reminder of how classic pop craftsmanship can still find new ways to resonate.

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