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Roy Harper - Burn the World CD (album) cover

BURN THE WORLD

Roy Harper

Prog Folk


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4 stars 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 hereīs 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 itīs 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 didnīt 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 itīs 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 Royīs epicīs is in Royīs great vocals & acoustic guitar playing. B-side live recording is even more naked than studio, but intensity of Royīs performing is higher, so these both versions really are worthwhile to hear!

I donīt know is the reason to ignore this Royīs great piece thinking that Roy exhorts people to terrorism in this piece. How I have understand the words itīs more Roy is showing the reasonīs for the peopleīs fundamental behavior. Also he isnīt just totally pessimistic of the worldīs situtation, he still seems to see there is a chance to change. And the last words canīt be misunderstood: "the poems in the wind whispering why burn the world?".

To me this album rise into level of Royīs 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 īs music!

Report this review (#2438128)
Posted Monday, August 17, 2020 | Review Permalink
2 stars Burn The World is a multi suite song by Harper that he has bemoaned since is was given a less than stellar reception by EMI Records when Roy presented it them, in demo form, back in 1988. Roy claims the reaction was due to the song's long length and less than commercial stance. That said, I feel that EMI probably rejected the 20 minute song based on the fact that it is disjointed and not one of Roy's more melodious works. Judge for yourself to see if it's par with Roy's 70s output like Stormcock or even Jugular form the 80s. This CD contains only the demo of the song and a live solo version. Both start promisingly enough with rapid sing-song rhyming verses, with Roy bemoaning the brutal state of the world before devolving into more obscure lyrics and musical themes that are not very riveting. Flashes of synths, percussion and proto electronica supplement this acoustic guitar based song. Roy even throws in a piece of music that he had been chucking around for awhile called "Desert Island" in the hope of adding some spice, but this upbeat section, with a Caribbean feel (!), seems totally out of place both lyrically and musically. Even a scorching brief lead guitar solo by Roy's son Nick (not credited), after the first two sections, can't add excitement to the confusing meandering that follows.

The live version is preferable over the home studio demo as it helps to showcase Harper's impressive guitar skills but that's all. Sometimes Roy, the record people are right. 2 stars.

Report this review (#2443497)
Posted Monday, August 31, 2020 | Review Permalink

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