Brilliant guitar and word-driven album!
Nick Harper defies time and reality!! Right from the pulsating driving guitar of the opening track you know you’re in the magical world of Harper. Not only one of the country’s greatest guitarists but a word of catchy melodies and thoughtful, poetic lyrics. I found myself playing it over and over. It has depth and variety. Loved it!!
Some thoughts on a few tracks:
Tempus Fugitive
I guess we’re all fugitives from the inevitability of eternity. We’ve spent our lives defying time, recklessly squandering it and tempting, nay mocking, the inevitable. It catches all of us sooner or later.
But that pulsating guitar rhythm is powerful!
Davey Graham & Hedy Lamarr
It segues into this fabulous glimpse into a bygone world. Suddenly we’re in the aromatic world of the Moroccan Kasbahs with the crazy Davey (I have a few tales to tell of him) who set the scene for all that followed and the inventor Hedy. That guitar pounds the exotic rhythms as Nick captures the atmosphere.
Took me back to those days in Les Cousins with Roy and Davey, Bert and John, Anji (Angie) and that tuning that altered life.
The Right Tool for the Job
Nick is so good at telling tales which have many levels. He relates biographical incidents to present-day situations. Brilliant.
Why do we keep electing the wrong tool for the job?
A Real Diamond
This one made me laugh. Took me right back to all those diamonds – tank tops, mutton chops, socks and that dreaded double diamond. He was a real diamond geezer.
A complete change of tone and music. Took a few listens to really get into it. Fabulous.
On The Village Green
A tremendous catchy pop romp back in time to being sixteen again. I must have been on that same village green with the mags, rollies and carefree camaraderie. Us against them. The forces of Mordor were on the horizon.
Return of Captain Swing
Ostensibly a clarion call to get out the zimmer, get back out on the streets and dance! Except, despite the catchy chorus line and a Pop sensibility, Captain Swing is really about the Swing Riots. A much lost piece of brutal British history. We know about the Diggers, Peterloo Massacre and Tolpuddle Martyrs but the Swing riots seem to have got lost in time. Hundreds were hung – one for knocking off a banker’s hat! Hundreds were deported. The poor were starving and wealthy never had it so good. Thank heavens times have changed.
Altogether a wicked album. Full of really catchy music but with real depth. Playing it nonstop. Treat yourself. A Harper classic. I’ll return to this and fill in the gaps later.