Genre: Progressive rock
Places I remember: Real Groovy (Auckland)
Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Delph Town Morn
Gear costume: Crazy Over You
Active compensatory factors: Fourth album from Barclay James Harvest is a little time capsule from 1972. Quite possibly, my favourite year for music.
Primarily, BJH's distinctiveness was built around the superb vocal combination of John Lees (guitars) and Les Holroyd (bass and keyboards); secondly by John Lees' guitar sound.
The other aspect of this album that I really enjoy is the space around the instruments on songs like Crazy (Over You) and Delp Town Morn, which is also distinguished by its brass ensemble sound.
On the whole, the album is somewhat patchy, with a strong first side and then some lesser material on the second. The pastoral closer, Moonwater, is either overly twee or lovely, depending on your sensibility and cynicism level.
Where do they all belong? The seventies would not be complete without the periodic BJH album. Time Honoured Ghosts is next.
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