BURN THE WORLD

I am not sure is this single or E.P at all. I believe reason it has put in album section in Discogs is that here´s two almost 20 minute pieces. Although the first one is demo-version of the epic "Burn the World" and another live version of it, I think this is one of the most interesting piece from Harper after seventies and hard to understand why it seems to be very ignored. Roy made a song called "Burn the World" already in the seventies, but it was released in his "Looney On the Bus"-compilation 1988. It has same atmosphere as this epic, but it´s different and got Part 1 in the parathesis. Really when these are listened in a row the epic one sounds like a continuum. Roy made the demo heard this record when making album "Descendants Of Smith" but as I thought in that album review, EMI didn´t saw any commercial potention in it and in the album was only a part of it as song "Desert Island".

Although the A-side is just demo recording, I think it´s really high level made. There has added some electro elements and Daft Brush is adding exotic percussive instruments. There is really great short guitar solo, that was originally said to be played by Dave Gilmour, but Harper has later said to be played by Tony Franklin. But the main role in this piece as in many Roy´s epic´s is in Roy´s great vocals & acoustic guitar playing. B-side live recording is even more naked than studio, but intensity of Roy´s performing is higher, so these both versions really are worthwhile to hear!

I don´t know is the reason to ignore this Roy´s great piece thinking that Roy exhorts people to terrorism in this piece. How I have understand the words it´s more Roy is showing the reason´s for the people´s fundamental behavior. Also he isn´t just totally pessimistic of the world´s situtation, he still seems to see there is a chance to change. And the last words can´t be misunderstood: "the poems in the wind whispering why burn the world?".

To me this album rise into level of Roy´s best works!! Really like to give it five stars, but there are few moments in both versions that would have needed something. We never knew, how the final studio version would have sounded, if EMI had left Roy record this great piece in his album. All way I think this is must to all who loves Roy ´s music!

Burn The World is a multi suite song by Harper that he has bemoaned since is was given a less than stellar reception by EMI Records when Roy presented it them, in demo form, back in 1988. Roy claims the reaction was due to the song's long length and less than commercial stance. That said, I feel that EMI probably rejected the 20 minute song based on the fact that it is disjointed and not one of Roy's more melodious works. Judge for yourself to see if it's par with Roy's 70s output like Stormcock or even Jugular form the 80s. This CD contains only the demo of the song and a live solo version. Both start promisingly enough with rapid sing-song rhyming verses, with Roy bemoaning the brutal state of the world before devolving into more obscure lyrics and musical themes that are not very riveting. Flashes of synths, percussion and proto electronica supplement this acoustic guitar based song. Roy even throws in a piece of music that he had been chucking around for awhile called "Desert Island" in the hope of adding some spice, but this upbeat section, with a Caribbean feel (!), seems totally out of place both lyrically and musically. Even a scorching brief lead guitar solo by Roy's son Nick (not credited), after the first two sections, can't add excitement to the confusing meandering that follows.

The live version is preferable over the home studio demo as it helps to showcase Harper's impressive guitar skills but that's all. Sometimes Roy, the record people are right. 2 stars.