Roy Harper S/D?

I find his fascinating though - moments or real genius punctuated by creative decisions so bad you wonder that it can be the same chap. I recently aquired both One of Those Days in England (Bullinamingvase) (1977) and The Unknown Soldier (1980). The difference between the quality of material on the two albums is staggering. While the former is sparkling with acoustic guitar tricks and melodies, the latter comes on like someone howling over the spanking new Moog they've just been given. Where the first is filled with invention and ideas, the second is flat and tired. Much of Harper's output that I have heard seems to continue in the same dichotomous vein.

haven't heard any Harper i'd flat-out destroy (yet), but he is extremely mercurial. '(Return of the) Sophisticated Beggar', Bullinamingvase' (One of These Days in England), 'Stormcock', 'HQ' (When an Old Cricketer...) and even the depressing but masterful 'Death or Glory?' and 'Lifemask' are all fine places to start exploring. there's an addictive quality to Harper's music, as long as you like your folk-rockers eccentric, indulgent, and painfully candid.

does Roger F still post here? Under a new name, perhaps?

Listening to Stormcock again right now. Its value seems to be altogether less in the tunes or the lyrics (which are both good)than the...sound -- whether the double-tracked vocals, the leslie-fied guitars, the organs, or his very plaintive, pure voice, the record is just a perfect example of minimalist overdubbing for maximal effect. Particularly, the David Bedford orchestrations on the last track -- so very underrated, that guy.

Also, I love the notes in the reissue where he talks about how happy and confident he looks in the photos -- you can definitely hear it in the music.

I really wish these records weren't so hard to find and/or expensive. Been looking lately after only having Stormcock and a greatest-Harvest-hits LP for years. I found Bullinamingvase, Lifemask, and HQ but the other seem elusive. Those BBC Session discs (there are 5!!) barely exist for sale online, I think I found one. You'd think some rich Led Zeppelin fan would mount a reissue campaign...

Too true. Sometimes I see Folkjokeopus once in a while. I got my copy for $6 at Kim's; it looks quite clean but the (American) pressing is kind of bad, so a few tiny marks cause a groove or two to be skipped.

(that remains, in fact, my only piece of harper vinyl; my roommate has a few of the CDs i think.)

he's ok

i got flat baroque and berserk at the FMU fair, but i havent seen any more around

flat baroque and berzerk is awesome.

i've got Flat Baroque, Stormcock and Lifemask on vinyl. all for pretty cheap.

i'll Leo Valentine in a few minutes.

just got one of those days in england! it rules so far!

I recently discovered that a friend had two of the Science Friction reissues - his first LP and the live album "Flashes From The Archives of Oblivion". The first LP in particular is astonishing - I was expecting something much more like the 1st ISB or Donovan recs but he seems to have arrived with his style fully formed. I like it almost as much as Flat Baroque & Berserk. The live one is a killer overview of the first half dozen or so records.

I can't believe Science Friction had a complete reissue program that put out THIRTY Harper CDs in the mid-90's and yet they are all pretty much impossible to find now. I'd love to hear those early BBC session discs.

This is kind of fun:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lsyMPoh1Kco

those BBC cds are amazing and totally essential

I just picked up a used copy of the deluxe version of Stormcock (hardcover book style cover) at Reckless for $12 last night, yay! Also Flat Baroque and Berserk. I've had the four albums Stormcock through HQ for many years, but sort of ignored his other stuff because of negative things I read, particularly about Folkjokeopus. But Flat Baroque is awesome. I'm tempted to go back for Bullinamingvase, though that one is full price at $22, ugh.

"deluxe version of Stormcock (hardcover book style cover) at Reckless for $12 last night"

jealous!

Flat Baroque is a fantastic album yeah, Side 1 especially.

I got a bunch of these recently in an attempt to get into him. Had bought Stormcock some time ago and like it. Can't say I massively got into HQ and Bullingvase and Lifemask, but I liked Lifemask. I think they need more work.

He's one of these people I'm certain I'm going to really get into at some point; it's just a matter of time.

Usually what happens is, you start off in high school listening to Roy Harper, then graduate to more adult music, like Floyd or Steve Miller Band.

I listened to RHarper (Bullvase) in 'high school', then graduated to more adult music like Pil, Gang of four, etcx.

http://www.thewire.co.uk/images/artists/harper__roy/COVER329-1500PX.JPG

The Arthur Russell-ification of RH begins

That's a great cover, love the way it's been cropped. Although it could almost be a photo of Peter Brötzmann.

Good interview too.

He was interviewed on BBC Breakfast News this morning! Bill Turnbull is a big fan of his, it seems. He was maybe a bit slow and deliberate for the fast pace of the show. Also I didn't know he'd been on Test Match Special this year, lunchtime interviewee of Jonathan Agnew's AND he got to commentate on the first ball after lunch!

I recently aquired both One of Those Days in England (Bullinamingvase) (1977) and The Unknown Soldier (1980).
(...)

While the former is sparkling with acoustic guitar tricks and melodies, the latter comes on like someone howling over the spanking new Moog they've just been given. Where the first is filled with invention and ideas, the second is flat and tired.

― Roger Fascist (Roger Fascist), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 09:56 (8 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Well, I only have "One of those days" bought back in the day, and always loved it. Back then, post 1977, punk happened and Roy Harper didn't release anything for ages, and I didn't have the money to keep up with the new and got back through the old at the same time.