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

HQ probably isn't the first release one should get from Roy Harper, but you'll want it sooner or later if you decide Harper is your cup of tea. For me, the first side of the album is something I normally skip. However, the last 3 songs on the second side rank among his greatest songs. "Forget Me Not" is a short and beautiful albeit haunting love song, ranking with VALENTINE's "Forever" as among his best in this vein. The spacious "Hallucinating Light," on the other hand, takes its time to work its charms, lulling the listener in. The last song, "When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease," is among Harper's most famous and beloved songs, and for good reason. Although released in 1975, the song has always reminded me of Floyd's THE WALL, due perhaps to the tasteful orchestration.