SOPHISTICATED BEGGAR

ROY HARPER is the 4th British Isles prog folk or prog-adjacent folk artist in rapid succession with whom I am becoming acquainted. Curiously, 2 of the others, JOHN RENBOURN and BERT JANSCH (unconfirmed), both appear on his debut album "Sophisticated Beggar", just before they went on to join PENTANGLE. Like the 4th, JOHN MARTYN, he stayed solo for the duration, and, also like Martyn, at least at this early stage his voice is much more agreeable and versatile than that of the aforementioned Jansch and Renbourn, and, while he doesn't hone his guitar skills to a similar degree, he's obviously quite proficient. Moreover, like Martyn, his focus and strength is his original material, with a slightly more political inclination.

I admit my only conscious direct experience with Harper goes back to 1975 when he sang "Have a Cigar" for PINK FLOYD like an inebriated slob, so imagine my surprise upon discovering that this had either been method acting or symptomatic of the steepest vocal decline in recorded history. I suppose the next few reviews will offer further insight.

As was the custom of these early days, this is largely an acoustic guitar and vocal album, with the main diversion being the refreshing "Mr. Station Master" that offers up context appropriate organ reminiscent of an amalgam of artists of that day but staunchly independent as well. Other high points include "Goldfish", the tongue-in-cheek "Big Fat Silver Airplane", and the vaguely ominous "Legend". The rest is at least earnest if not always captivating, with a shout out for the idiosyncrasies of the title track, and the commentary of "October 12th".

The list of those who might have followed Harper would crash today's facebook servers, and while he could vaguely meet the criteria for a musician's musician, he is thankfully more of an intellectual yet earthy folksinger's folksinger. Like it says on the tin.

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