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""Octoberon" is one of those great classics of music that will appeal to Barclay James Harvest novices and progressive rock fans alike."
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5/5
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Attention, masterpiece! How else to define this progressive symphonic "first side" (or the other way round, it's up to you) of "Octoberon", composed of the first three tracks, which are probably the most accomplished of Barclay James Harvest's in their writing, their interpretation and their sequence.
It begins with 'The World Goes On', written as a concerto for voice, guitar and orchestra, and its slow rise in power. This is followed by 'May Day', a playful, well-crafted ballad that suddenly turns into an opera, with grandiloquent choirs and instrumentation reminiscent of Aida and its trumpets. And finally 'Ra', with its purely progressive architecture and source of multiple emotions. With this track, Barclay James Harvest produces his 'Atom Heart Mother', no less.
After all this fun, what could we expect once the LP of the time had been turned over? Quite simply a B-side of typical Barclay James Harvest hits, starting with 'Rock N' Roll Star', the band's classic live hit, followed closely by the catchy 'Polk Street Rag' and the famous 'Believe In Me'. Closing with 'Suicide', whose construction and harmonies inevitably recall the magical 'Child Of The Universe'.
Despite a somewhat outdated production, "Octoberon' is one of those great classics of music. It will seduce both the novices of the band for whom it will constitute a more than ideal entry door, and the passionate of progressive rock for whom it seems hardly conceivable to miss such a nugget. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. The World Goes On - 6:29
02. May Day - 5:34
03. Ra - 4:19
04. Rock 'n' Roll Star - 5:18
05. Polk Street Rag - 5:39
06. Believe In Me - 4:23
07. Suicide? - 7:56
LINEUP:
John Lees: Chant / Guitares
Les Halroyd: Chant / Basse
Mel Pritchard: Batterie
Stuart Wolstenholm: Guitares / Claviers
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4/5 (5 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.3/5 (6 view(s))
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OTHER REVIEWS
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