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

Finally following up on a comment that I'd made to Sean Trane when Harper came into PA, here's the first (and only) album that I've picked up. Much expectation, followed by repeated listens waiting for the lighting. To no avail. First the vocals - on some songs , I swear I hear echoes of John Lennon in his mellow moments. In other places, I believe that David Gilmour would have made a good choice to bring him in as a replacement for Roger Waters for Floyd The opener comes across as a Who acoustic rocker from Who's Next. Come to the mid point, and then some prog pops up. Mellow acoustic, with Gilmour playing fills in the background. It then resumes its' rock riff at the 10 minute mark and rides it to the end. Good start, if not what I expected from Harper. Grown Ups is a very basic rocker. Nicely played, but unless the lyrics catch you , it's nothing more (Grown ups are just silly children, anybody can see) Referendum is a hard rocker, tempered with acoustic verses. The Strawbs reference is apt, but without the keyboards or the more dense sound that the Strawbs usually brought to their heavier numbers. Forget me Not is a nice acoustic number that wouldn't have been out of place on Zep's Physical Graffiti - some sonic treatments to the guitar, but nothing more. Hallucinating Light starts off, and I'm at first reminded of ELP's Lucky Man. IF it was played by VDGG. An Old Cricketeer - well , here's the one that really made me think of Roger Waters singing, especially on the acoustic numbers from Animals. Indeed, the song could have fit in there.

In all, the record is decent. But it isn't the one where Harper would have gained any prog credentials from me. And given all the talent involved, it makes me wonder why it didn't come out stronger. And strangely, for his reputed quirkiness/uniqueness, the lasting impression is that too many spots brought me back to other artists music. So this LP will make its' way back to Spin-It as trade for something else.