I first met Nick when he was a young child and over the years he has become a close friend.This book illuminates the genius that I feel is Nick Harper and is designed to accompany ‘The Wilderness Years’, a trilogy of vinyl albums. Nick talks candidly about many aspects of his music and career. I include, with Nick’s permission, the lyrics of all the songs featured in the trilogy.There are also many photos dating from his childhood to the present day.
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.
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.
I think this is my favourite Nick Harper track. That is really saying something as he has written some extraordinary songs.
It is a heartfelt plea to the world leaders to do something about poverty.
The G7 nations meet but play games. They are not bothered about sorting out the world’s problems. The wars rage, inequality creates mass poverty, everything runs on profit, the rich organise the system to make them richer, babies starve, parents are desperate and the environment is destroyed.
Nick made the comparison of the G7 nations with the Magnificent 7 film. So who is going to come to the aid of the poor villagers?
The song is a beautiful lilting song with some incredible use of harmonics and string winding. It is a real contrast to the desperation it describes.
The Magnificent G7
Poor men can hope but there’s not much time You have the power to banish the poverty
Holding their fate You’re living in a movie But you are only seven men Really only seven men You are only seven men they are nations
Break them some bread for their children Who are their dreams who are their future
Holding their fate You’re living in a movie But you are only seven men Really only seven men You are only seven men they are nations
Mountains of money Mountains of grain Mountains between you Mountains of shame
Holding their fate You’re living in a movie But you are only seven men Really only seven men You are only seven men they are nations
