... AND OTHER SHORT STORIES

The band's growing confidence is apparent on this their third album. "Ursula", "Medicine Man", and "Someone there you know" all bear the hallmarks of a band at ease with itself, while developing its own hallmark sound. That sound is one of melodic prog with strong vocals and symphonic instrumentation. I hesitate to say it in view of BJH's undeserved "Poor man's Moody blues tag", but the Moodies are a good reference point for those unfamiliar with the work of BJH.

The band are working as a coherent unit here, with a definite sense of purpose and direction, coupled with strong compositional skills. These skills are perhaps most apparent towards the end of the album where the orchestral majesty of the delicate "The Poet" merges into the bombastic "After the day" to form a terrific two part closing track. Only "Harry's song" and "Blue John's Blues" let the side down slightly, both being rather dull with weaker melodies. In all though, a highly accomplished album which displays an evolving maturity.

By the way, it is interesting to hear on the subsequent live album how the opening track "Medicine man" is transformed from a BJH standard, to a lengthy beat laden jam.

The remastered CD version includes several interesting bonus tracks.

Share this BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Easy Livin
• Report this review (#22610)
• Buy BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST music online with PA partners
• Show all BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST MP3/Stream
• Go to BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to ... And Other Short Stories page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST related discussions