BURN THE WORLD

I am not sure is this single or E.P at all. I believe reason it has put in album section in Discogs is that here´s two almost 20 minute pieces. Although the first one is demo-version of the epic "Burn the World" and another live version of it, I think this is one of the most interesting piece from Harper after seventies and hard to understand why it seems to be very ignored. Roy made a song called "Burn the World" already in the seventies, but it was released in his "Looney On the Bus"-compilation 1988. It has same atmosphere as this epic, but it´s different and got Part 1 in the parathesis. Really when these are listened in a row the epic one sounds like a continuum. Roy made the demo heard this record when making album "Descendants Of Smith" but as I thought in that album review, EMI didn´t saw any commercial potention in it and in the album was only a part of it as song "Desert Island".

Although the A-side is just demo recording, I think it´s really high level made. There has added some electro elements and Daft Brush is adding exotic percussive instruments. There is really great short guitar solo, that was originally said to be played by Dave Gilmour, but Harper has later said to be played by Tony Franklin. But the main role in this piece as in many Roy´s epic´s is in Roy´s great vocals & acoustic guitar playing. B-side live recording is even more naked than studio, but intensity of Roy´s performing is higher, so these both versions really are worthwhile to hear!

I don´t know is the reason to ignore this Roy´s great piece thinking that Roy exhorts people to terrorism in this piece. How I have understand the words it´s more Roy is showing the reason´s for the people´s fundamental behavior. Also he isn´t just totally pessimistic of the world´s situtation, he still seems to see there is a chance to change. And the last words can´t be misunderstood: "the poems in the wind whispering why burn the world?".

To me this album rise into level of Roy´s best works!! Really like to give it five stars, but there are few moments in both versions that would have needed something. We never knew, how the final studio version would have sounded, if EMI had left Roy record this great piece in his album. All way I think this is must to all who loves Roy ´s music!