BULLINAMINGVASE [AKA: ONE OF THOSE DAYS IN ENGLAND]

Roy Harper holds a real excentric and genuine talent. That goes, really, without saying. And while I do appreciate folk-rock and progressive folk my feelings towards the bulk of Harper's work are divided. The album prior to this one, HQ, is a great album, of sorts. I gave it four stars, mainly due to the outstanding ending, 'When an old cricketer leaves the crease'. So, I was really excited to hear this one. Supposedly this ought to hold similar brilliance. Having said this I guessed that it would also hold songs of less interest to me. I was right.

Being an anglophile I do love when songs hold that very specific british tone. The opener, 'One of those days in England', hits the spot perfectly. Sublime and gentle it really touches me. A great song that opens the album in the most humble of ways. The songs following are more or less in the same vein, folky songs with more or less complex arrangements. Though it need to be said, there are not any overly complex compositions to be found on the first four songs. They are simply great folk inspired songs with a hint of rock and splashes of prog. The only song I disapprove of is 'Watford gap'. It created some sort of stir back in the day but that does not make the song any better. I could easily live without that one.

And then it comes, the rumbling epic of 'One of those days in England (parts 2-10)'. This is the true progressive folk number of the album. In this epic work Harper throws in ideas of all sorts. It really is an accomplished number, tying the opener to the ending track by including the theme. There is a rock'n'roll section I disagree with but apart from that it is a really interesting and great track.

The real reward on this album is, really, 'One of those days in England (parts 1-10)'. Apart from 'Watford gap' there is not a bad song on here BUT apart from the 10-part epic the other tracks are too much in the same way. Nice to listen to but I forget them too easily. So, 'Bullinamingvase' is an interesting album and I really enjoy it but in the end I have to face the truth and I cannot give this album more than three stars. I recommend you to listen to the 10-part epic, though. That is truly brilliant stuff.