Roy Harper - HQ (SNS 20-bit) (1975) (eac-flac-cover)

Roy Harper - HQ (SNS 20-bit) (1975)

Rock | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 410MB

Science Friction  | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
Roy Harper was already coming off two stellar efforts in Lifemask (1973) and Valentine (1974), which marked yet another artistic peak and his introduction to American audiences. Previous settings of acoustic guitar and orchestration were supplanted by Harper's formation of Trigger, a relatively straightforward hard rock trio anchored by ace guitarist Chris Spedding and former King Crimson/Yes drummer Bill Bruford. (The unit disbanded after this album, however.) Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones are among the other all-star contributors on this album, which gets off to a rousing start with "The Game"'s multi-part critique of modern society and features some hard-hitting guitar passages. "The Spirit Lives" upholds yet another long-running Harper theme of critiquing Christianity and its premises. "Hallucination Light" and "Forget Me Not" maintain the brooding romanticism associated with Harper's earlier work, but it's the last track that should stick longest with listeners. Harper's understated, elegaic ode to life's departures gains power from a blend of string and brass band lines; it remains one of his finest, most enduring compositions. Commercially, Harper's profile remains that of a cult artist, but he surely deserves wider recognition on his own merit. If you only know Harper as an associate of the '70s English rock aristocracy or the shadowy subject of Led Zeppelin's "Hats off to Harper," make this album one of your first starting points.

Tracks:
1. The Game (Parts 1-5) (13:42)
2. The Spirit Lives (4:15)
3. Grown Ups Are Just Silly Children (2:56)
4. Referendum (Legend) (3:49)
5. Forget Me Not (2:25)
6. Hallucinating Light (6:24)
7. When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease (7:28)
bonus
* The Spirit Lives (4:37) (early mix 1975-03-23)
* When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease (7:52) [Exeter 1977-10-31]
* Hallucinating Light (7:33) (acoustic version)

Personnel:
* Roy Harper – vocals, guitar
* David Gilmour – guitar on "The Game"
* John Paul Jones – bass on "The Game"
* Steve Broughton – drums on "The Game"
* Chris Spedding – guitar
* Bill Bruford – drums
* Dave Cochran – bass
* The Grimethorpe Colliery Band – brass on "When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease"

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