Highlights: The Enemy, Time Is Temporary, January Man, Heaven Is
Here
You learn as you go
along. Previously to this album, my exposure to Roy Harper (who is righteous,
according to Luke Haines’ Twitter) had been limited to the leading vocal on
Pink Floyd’s “Have A Cigar” (anything but a popular view, but I’ve always loved
the song) and, ironically, that song title from Led Zeppelin’s third LP. “Hats
Off To Roy Harper”. Well, judging by this album as well as the acclaimed,
hurriedly-listened-to Stormcock –
hats off indeed.
I’ll admit that these
days the idea of a lengthy track seems rather scary. Right away I think of
something plodding and pretentious. And admittedly Roy Harper’s track list
for Man and Myth looked alarming. One
song in particular, “Heaven Is Here”, is longer than 15 minutes. And in folk music,
you pretty much have to be Dylan in his prime to pull that off.
But the very first song,
“The Enemy”, tells you that you are in good hands. The guitar sounds masterful, just as that first hookline. The song never sounds monotonous, Roy is always there to spice
things up a bit with a witty guitar line or a rockier section. Next up is “Time Is
Temporary”, which opens like a classic ballad off an early Leonard Cohen album.
This song as well as “The Stranger” have that slightly dark, autumnal vibe of “Master
Song”. Never a bad thing. “Cloud Cuckooland” opens non-typically, with a saxophone, and I just
love the anthemic diversity that was probably needed at this point.
The centrepiece is of course “Heaven Is Here”, and let's get this straight: there isn't one
part in it that sounds remotely expendable. Even the instrumental passages, with
orchestration or with Roy gently fingerpicking the acoustic guitar, sound compelling and flow into the singing sections with convincing ease.
Granted, Roy’s voice has
gotten more fragile with years, but that never really bothered me. Some notes might be eluded, but he sounds completely in charge all the way through. His guitar playing is great,
his songwriting is arguably as strong as ever. In a word – the whole thing is masterful. If I have to thank Joanna
Newsom for that, I will. But mostly let's be grateful to Roy Harper himself for keeping
it up and, in the process, recording one of the best albums of 2013.
9/10
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