NOVUM

Ok, not all the over 70 vocalists have the same extension they had when they were young. Brooker is not an exception, his voice is still recognisable and fits perfectly but nobody can expect high notes like on A Salty Dog to say one title.

Also, the songs are quite dated. It's like a fantastic album has been recorded and put into a time machine just to appear 50 years later then its time.

You know what? I LIKE IT!

It's an excellent album. The sound quality is at today's level and doesn't sound too "vintage". Of course the songwriting is not evolved, but whoever likes the classic Procol Harum will not be disappointed by this "Novum" album. There's plenty of melodies, very British I'd say, with songs like "Can't Say That" which seems to come from the Blues revival years.

In the end it's like it was a lost album and I think that Procol Harum have done the best possible thing: instead of trying to be "actual" and renewing their songwriting they have done exactly what a fan wants: be themselves, even if it's everything but a reunion of the original members. Only Brooker is survived from the first album's lineup 51 years ago.

But this is a proper Procol Harum album. Fit for purpose. You won't find a new Whiter Shade Of Pale inside, but the whole album is very consistent. Not many peaks but absoutely no lowlights. In my opinion it deserves not less than 4 PA stars.

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Posted Friday, May 26, 2017 | Review this album | Report (Review #1726962)

I saw Procol Harum play live two years ago, but it was a set of older material, so I had no idea what to expect out of their first album of new material in 14 years. Gary Brooker is back, of course. Brooker has been the singer, pianist, and main songwriter for the group over the course its 50 y ... (read more)

Report this review (#1721369) | Posted by FunkyM | Sunday, May 14, 2017 | Review Permanlink

Review # 54. Is there anyone who was expecting Procol Harum to release their 17th studio album, after a long 50-year-old career, in order to form an opinion about them? I hope not! I must admit that this new release caught me by surprise, as I wasn't expecting anything like that. I know t ... (read more)

Report this review (#1717386) | Posted by The Jester | Thursday, May 4, 2017 | Review Permanlink

I had some reservations about listening to this new Procol Harum album as I had heard that Gary Brooker's voice was deteriorating over the last few years. At 72 years old, it has. And that creates a dilemma as Brooker's voice was also Procol's sixth instrument, especially when he'd go ballistic an ... (read more)

Report this review (#1713681) | Posted by SteveG | Monday, April 24, 2017 | Review Permanlink

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