FLAT BAROQUE AND BERSERK

Third stunning album in a row for Roy Harper, this one goingas the title says bonkers. With Harper dressed as if he was in his coffin, this also Roy's first for the EMI-subsidiary label Harvest and it was producer by Floyd alumni Peter Jenner. Backed up by the three musicians from The Nice, you'd have a hard time to think of this album as folk album, but

Actually the album's general tone is fairly singular folk rock and not necessarily easy to cope with, as Harper is particularly nasal, on top of his usual antics, but most progheads should love the lengthy I Hate The White Man, a poignant thought-provoking song in these Western European empires disappearing days. That track and its similarly-built little brother How Does It Feel are the A-side highlights, the rest being as described at the top of the paragraph.

The flipside start with a slew of shorter tracks resembling the same description in the previous paragraph, before hitting the druggy psych-folk-rock of Tiddler's Ground and later, the fun Hell's Angels, a ditty about the pack's delicious lifestyle, including intimate details.

Certainly not as immediate as Stormcock or Lifemask, FB&B is surely not an easy album and it won't give itself on the first few listens, but it shouldn't put up desperate resistance either. Try the following two or the preceding FJO.

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Posted Friday, May 9, 2008 | Review this album | Report (Review #170299)

A very welcome follow up to Folkjokeopus. Flat Baroque and Beserk is IMO a solid album all round abley backed by The Nice. Tighter arrangements marked the beginning of the 70's decade for Roy Harper that he was being taken more and more seriously. Standout songs are ' Don't You Grieve', the politically sensitive ' I hate the White man' and ' Hell's Angels'. Protest songs were never in short supply from Roy Harper, he sang the the poignant ' South Africa' back in 1973 and was clearly one of the early musical prog pioneers against racism. Three and a half stars.

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Posted Thursday, July 3, 2008 | Review this album | Report (Review #176031)

Although somewhat overshadowed by the magisterial Stormcock, which followed in 1971, Flat Baroque And Berserk is nonetheless an extremely impressive innings from the old cricketer. Harper's fourth album, and certainly his most consistent up to that point, it was also his first release on what t ... (read more)

Report this review (#2651696) | Posted by Hewitt | Sunday, December 12, 2021 | Review Permanlink

Folk, straight up with a prog chaser. That's the best way I can describe Flat Baroque and Berserk to someone that's never heard it. There's little folk prog on this album and nothing terribly complicated, but that was the point. FBaB was Harper claiming a solid stake in the folk music w ... (read more)

Report this review (#1471693) | Posted by SteveG | Thursday, October 1, 2015 | Review Permanlink

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