HQ [AKA: WHEN AN OLD CRICKETER LEAVES THE CREASE]

A review of Harper's venerated folk-art album Stormcock seems remiss to me without a review of Harper's most blatant rock album HQ, which followed a few years later.

Harper didn't immediately jump on the hard rock train after Stormcock, the albums Lifemask and Valentine, which were both mostly recorded in the same acoustic vane as Stormcock, followed immediately after it. Lifemask was a mix of both obtuse and clear lyrical imagery by Harper, while Valentine contained some of Harper's most straight forward and understandable lyrics, given that the album was relationship based.

However, for HQ, Harper returns to angst and overlong obtuse verbiage as found on the songs from Stormcock. However, the turn to a hard rock sound gives Harper, finally, a firm musical ground from which he can dissect the ills of the world's people and politics without sounding like he's ranting over a subtle folk song. Rock is angry music and Harper is at home with it.

HQ's leadoff track The Game, with it's insistent riffage from guest guitarist Chris Spedding is beautifully broken by the sublime notes provided by David Gilmour in the song's quiet and meditative meddle section. This is the first song to feature Harper's multi tracked vocals in an ethereal dreamlike sequence that he would go on to perfect in songs on future albums. Harper now is singing in what sounds like a semi tone lower than his earlier records, which helps to remove the shrillness from his vocal delivery.

The core musicians on HQ are King Crimson refugee drummer Bill Bruford, bassist Dave Cockran along with Spedding. Gilmour steps off after The Game and its the Harper and the trio that do the yeomen work on HQ.

The Spirit Lives and Grown Ups Are Just Silly Children are pastiches of American slide guitar blues and Elvis era R&R, respectively, with Harper supplying biting commentaries on the attitudes and actions of politicians.

Referendum is another hard rocking satirical rant with catchy hooks similar to The Game, but less obtuse verbally and, importantly, shorter in length. If Stromcock could have only one unredeemable feature, it would be the length of it's four epic but monotonous songs. Harper avoids that trap on HQ and the album is the better for it.

Hallucinating Light is a dreamy 'live in the studio' run through ballad that Harper decided to keep even though his voice was a little horse on the songs stunning chorus. A brave choice and a wise decision as it's Harper's second best song on the album.

Unsurprisingly, Harper's best song on HQ is the album closer When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease. It's Harper's best known song in his native home of Great Britain and it's a beautiful folk rock homage to his home country that's comes complete with a beautiful brass arrangement by arranger David Bedford. It may well be Harper's finest moment on a record. Anyone who loves the lush orchestrations of the Strawbs' Hero And Heroine album would be right at home listening to this sublime song that features, ironically for this album, just Harper's heartfelt vocals and his acoustic guitar, apart from Bedford's lovely brass score.

Roy Harper is as proud of HQ as he is of Stormcock. I'm just proud to be able to listen to it from time to time. 4 stars.

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