5.0 out of 5 stars Two old friends, one take newly told.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 January 2020
This is not just a book, it is a Labour of love. Other has known Nick for most of Nick’s life. He has a pride in him like a father, or at worst the best of teachers (though he will deny having taught Nick anything.) The book was intended as a companion to three L.P. Collection. It is more than that. Much more. It is the story of a songwriter, musician and maverick. It tells of a man who is committed to two things, his family and his musical integrity. The former should be the first consideration for any person with a family, the latter the method to support and provide for the former. Music is love. I have known Nick since 1984, but not as Opher does. I do not have bragging rights, but I know who he is. Looking back I realise he was enigmatic. I watched him over the years. I saw him to from passenger to team player to engine driver in his musical journey. Biscuits playing from very good to superb and peerless. His songs have taken a simi?at journey. His style has woven down many lanes, albeit closely linked. Through them all you hear Nick’s character.This story was familiar to me, like talking to an old friend. But there was more. The story is bigger than what I knew, the songs more complex, and intellectual.
If you know Nick Harper’s music, this book is essential. If you don’t, this is a guide to some of the most satisfying stuff you will hear this side of Killing Joke, classic 60s and 70s songwriters, modern day guitar wizzkids. A great read in easy style, with delightful interview responses from Nick himself to put flesh and blood to the story. Designed as a companion, but stands up by itself as a great little biography. Not just another chord in your song.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A cracking escape into Harperspace
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 January 2020
The Short Review:
Great little book; whether you’re familiar with the music of Nick Harper or not, this is a worthwhile and entertaining read about one of the finest living British musicians and songwriters.
Accessibly written in an engaging style and with numerous direct contributions from Nick (Harpic) Harper himself and some very cool photographs, this book examines Nick’s work and contextualises it against his life, the Universe and everything he holds important– including remarkable charity work.
Buy it… ideally buy Nick’s three-album retrospective too…and take a journey into Harperspace.
The Longer Review:
As above; but framed against this background…
Nick once corrected me to the effect that “No-one here is a poor-man’s anything…”, when I played support to him and dared suggest that I was simply a low-level copy of another singer-songwriter who bears his surname. Nick was effusive about the true artistic value of original and self-driven artists; I learnt and grew in confidence from that straightforward endorsement at close-quarters.
My experiences of Nick early in his solo gigging career led me to believe that he is an important and often overlooked talent whose fans and followers know as a humourous, thoughtful, exciting and dynamic entertainer whilst remaining a grounded and private individual.
Opher’s fine book takes a deeper look into what it is that constitutes the magic of Nick’s work, and the man himself; a lovely man I’ll readily buy a pint for any time we cross paths.
Anyone who considers themself to be a lover of music will be rewarded through reading this – and enlightened about what it can mean to be genuinely creative and original, too.
Thanks to both of you! Much appreciated!!
Nick Harper: The Wilderness Years: Amazon.co.uk: Goodwin, Opher: 9798815185630: Books