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Barclay James  Harvest - Face to Face CD (album) cover

FACE TO FACE

Barclay James Harvest

 

Crossover Prog

2.59 | 92 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
2 stars I have been suffering quite a bit with BJH recently.

This band was one of my preferred ones in the mid-seventies. Their last albums were really weak and have nothing to do with prog (of any kind). I expect the worse from this album and it not the opener "Prisoner of Love" which will bring me any positive feeling. Just poor and poppish simple song. Syrupous, childish and boring. Do not expect from "He Said Love" to be anything similar to the great "She Said". Dull moment again. Almost religious (and you know I can not really cope with these type of songs).

"Alone In The Dark" is less mellow and might well be one of the very few average song. Harder, it even features a good guitar break. Would you believe ! But alas, it will only be a short break. With "Turn The Key" we'll have to support a Bee Gees type of song. Dreadful, really. Under these circomstances, a song like "You Need Love" almost sound as a nice breathe of fresh air; but don't expect too much. It is just a sub-par Beatles melody but one of the most bearable songs of this album.

My preferred track so far is "Kiev". Its introduction reminds me of "Suicide?". You know, the good old days... At least we are not submerged by these boring and poppish rhythms. A melancholic ballad, somewhat emotional and touchy. It also remind me of "A Writer Shade Of Pale". I hope I'm not too confusing... All these great influences for a late eighties BJH album... Don't worry, we are brought back on earth with the next and horrible song "African". Another low (but they are so many...). Extremely poor like some Genesis songs while they were three (just to give you an idea...). "Following Me" is just on par. Definitively, press next.

"All My Life" sounds dico-ish like "Roxy Music" during their least creative moments (their come back actually). I would even say that it is not that bad; having endured such difficult moments so far. When I saw the next title, I really did not know what to expect. Well "Panic" is just as bad as you could imagine. BJH at its low (and you know what it means...).

OK, we'll get finally a decent song with "Guitar Blues". It is a bit drowned into orchestrations (Woolly would have liked it) but it features an interesting guitar break. The closing number is not that bad either; somewhat reminiscent of the ancient times (especially on the vocal side). But these orchestrations kill it a bit.

I am afraid that I will still have to suffer while listening to the remaining of their production, but that's another story. I cannot find one great song here. Only a few average ones. The worse sits with the poor. BJH goes on with the release of progless and insipid music. There are about four average songs here. Three out of ten would be my accurate rating. I will upgrade to two stars (but I am really hesistant to do so).

ZowieZiggy | 2/5 |

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