ONCE AGAIN

The second album from Barclay James Harvest called Once Again is another great pop/ rock album with slight progressive tendencies. The debut album was a really great collection of songs that I enjoy listening to on occasion and Once Again continues the style that was started on the debut. The best thing about Barclay James Harvest IMO is their beautiful melodies, they are really exceptionally melodic.

The music is not overtly progressive but there are progressive tendencies like orchestral arrangements and symphonic moments. Especially songs like She Said and Mocking Bird have beautiful orchestral arrangements. The songs are generally mellow and emotional but there is one rocker on the album. Ball & Chain is a great rock song reminding me of the few rock songs on the debut album. Ball & Chain helps the album to be a bit more diverse.

The musicians are good and play with emotional debth. I really like John Lees guitar which is very present compared to many other prog rock bands from that time. Mel Pritchard´s drumming is also very good. I like his thunderous playing in the more intense moments in the songs. I don´t know much about Barclay James Harvest and as both John Lees and Les Holroyd are credited with lead vocals I´m not sure who sings when but the vocals are generally an enjoyable experience and way above average.

The sound quality isn´t the greatest but it has it´s charm and I like it. The productions from the sixties and early seventies where the drums are only heard in one speaker and the other instruments in the other does have a certain charm that music today doesn´t. This is an aquired taste of course.

I think Barclay James Harvest have made a really excellent prog rock album here and again they show that they are very accomplished melody makers. I have to be in the right mood to fully appreciate Once Again though as it can get a bit cheesy at times, but the beautiful melodies saves them every time. 4 stars is a matter of course for this excellent album.