roy harper / albums

Harper's critically acclaimed masterwork, HQ, is essential for every rock music collection. Backed by his short-lived group Trigger, consisting of Bill Bruford (Yes/King Crimson), Chris Spedding (Sharks/Jack Bruce), and Dave Cochran (Albert King), Harper is at the peak of his lyrical and musical powers here. Considered his most integral "rock" record, the tight, consistent HQ is comprised of fewer acoustically oriented tracks than most of his other releases. The album is highlighted by two lengthy cuts. The opener, "The Game," features Harper's stunning stream-of-consciousness lyrics, fantastic drumming/percussion courtesy of Bruford and Steve Broughton, and strong guitar work. The backing guitar track was laid down by Dave Gilmour and completed by Spedding, whose accomplished solo is not to be missed. In fact, HQ contains some of the best guitar work of Spedding's career. The composition also features bassist John Paul Jones' sole contribution. "When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease," the final cut on the original release, shines with Dave Bedford's arrangement and the brass of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band. A beautiful Anglo-Saxon tune, the song is a tribute to Harper's childhood memories of the game (cricket) and the brass band sound that always accompanied it. Harper considers HQ his best record to date. Further evidence of the album's strength can be found in the hot lead guitar and slide work in the poetic "The Spirit Lives," the occasional hard rock sound of "Referendum," and Harper's melancholy solo performance, "Forget Me Not." The 1995 re-release of HQ includes three bonus tracks: an interesting alternate version of "The Spirit Lives," an inferior live version of "When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease," an a great alternate take of "Hallucinating Light." Remastered with 20-bit supermapping, the CD features original cover art from the British and the American releases. ~ David Ross Smith, All Music Guide