Browse by Artist: HARPER, ROY

Artist:	HARPER, ROY
Title:	Lifemask
Label:	SCIENCE FRICTION (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	HUCD 005CD

1994 release. "The follow-up to Roy Harper's career-defining song cycle Stormcock, 1973's Lifemask does an excellent job on building on some of the most successful aspects of the previous album without sounding like a mere retread. Wisely, Harper doesn't attempt to repeat the unusual four-lengthy-songs structure of Stormcock, instead favoring shorter songs and mood pieces which cohere into a satisfying whole. Jimmy Page, used sparingly and to great effect on Stormcock, plays on nearly every track here, his instantly recognizable lead guitar contrasting nicely with Harper's typically fluid acoustic work. The songs are a fiercely political lot, with an irony-dripping version of 'The Lord's Prayer' worked into a sneering catalogue of injustices and incidents of destruction being the centerpiece. Next to it, the calmer but still mighty angry 'South Africa' sounds almost gentle, and its melody is actually about the prettiest on the album."

Artist:	HARPER, ROY
Title:	Death Or Glory?
Label:	SCIENCE FRICTION (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	HUCD 012CD

1994 release. "Originally released in 1992, Death Or Glory? was conceived after the bitter dissolution of a decade-long relationship, which makes it the emotional, if not artistic, heir of John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. The album shuns Harper's penchant for over-production in lieu of his more traditional acoustic sound. 'The Tallest Tree' is a winning tribute to Chico Mendes, with spiraling guitar work by Nick Harper. Harper is also positive in the winsome 'Evening Star,' which finds him finally recreating his classic early-'70s sound. Harper wrote the song for Robert Plant's daughter on her wedding. Perhaps the album's finest moment is the mostly instrumental tribute to Miles Davis, 'Miles Remains.' In any form, Death Or Glory? remains one of Harper's most satisfying works."

Artist:	HARPER, ROY
Title:	Valentine
Label:	SCIENCE FRICTION (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	HUCD 015CD

1994 release. "Valentine, released on that day in 1974, is a collection of tracks that Roy Harper recorded during the '70s, but did not include on either Stormcock or Lifemask. The fact that this album somehow gels is testimony to just how talented Harper was at this point in his career. All Harper albums have stellar cameos, and this one is no different. Jimmy Page adds devastating lead guitar to 'Male Chauvinist Pig Blues.' In addition, David Bedford continues his streak of outstanding string arrangements on Harper albums with particularly winning versions for 'I'll See You Again' and Commune.' The instrumental 'Che' is a reminder of Harper's astounding and influential acoustic guitar technique, while 'Twelve Hours Of Sunset' rivals 'Waterloo Sunset' as one of the most beautiful songs in the English language."

Artist:	HARPER, ROY
Title:	HQ
Label:	SCIENCE FRICTION (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	HUCD 019CD

"Originally released in 1975, HQ is Roy Harper's 8th studio album. Roy describes HQ as his most integral 'rock record'. It featured Harper's formation of Trigger, a relatively straightforward hard rock trio anchored by ace guitarist Chris Spedding and former King Crimson/Yes drummer Bill Bruford. (The unit disbanded after this album, however.) Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones are among the other all-star contributors on this album. The album was originally released in the U.S. under the title of When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease." Includes a 32-page booklet.

Artist:	HARPER, ROY
Title:	The Dream Society
Label:	SCIENCE FRICTION (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	HUCD 030CD

"1998's The Dream Society is very typical of recent Harper in that it sounds more rocky than folky and has abandoned some of Harper's unusual guitar work for a slightly more traditional style. Where it excels, however, is in the deeply personal, poetic and thought-provoking quality of its lyrics, which are above and beyond even Harper's usual high standard in this department. He remains one of the great unsung geniuses of UK music." Includes a 32-page booklet.

Artist:	HARPER, ROY
Title:	The Unknown Soldier
Label:	SCIENCE FRICTION (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	HUCD 031CD

"While duets are not commonplace on Roy Harper albums, Kate Bush accompanies Harper on the song 'You (The Game Part II)' to great effect. The song 'Short And Sweet' features Pink Floyd's David Gilmour on guitar. (The song is also found on Gilmour's first solo album). Originally released in 1980, The Unknown Soldier had Harper providing the lyrics and Gilmour the music and co-writing five of the album ten songs." Includes a 16-page booklet.

Artist:	HARPER, ROY
Title:	The Green Man
Label:	SCIENCE FRICTION (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	HUCD 033CD

2000 release. "Roy Harper, the astounding British singer/songwriter delivers his best album since 1974's Stormcock and gets his muse back on track. Always an extraordinary guitarist, his songs are still developed out of the folk techniques of his early albums and his lyrics are still as sublimely poetic and soaring. His beautiful voice hasn't sounded so impassioned since his great trilogy of albums: Flat Baroque And Berzerk, Come Out Fighting Ghengis Smith, and the aforementioned masterpiece Stormcock. For this sessions, Harper went into the studio alone and wrote, engineered, and mixed the entire collection himself. It's evident that the isolation brought his more introspective, deeply personal elements out in the songs. Yet another utterly inexhaustible album in the legacy of one of the UK's most admired songwriters."

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