Review Summary: Guitarist Robin Trower goes out with a bang on this hard rocking incarnation of Procol Harum.
Another fantastic release from the band! Throughout their career, Procol Harum must have been one of the most prolific and consistent art rock groups in existence. This album doesn’t break the winning streak; building on the “back to basics” approach of
Home, they deliver a set of songs that rely on heavy riffs, intense vocals, while the trademark "classical” approach of the group lurks in the background. Quite a swan song for the brilliant Robin Trower, I must say.
Of course, the compositions themselves aren’t “true” hard rock; they are more complex than your average AC/DC number, with enough melodic and rhythmic shifts in each song so as not to sound too “simplistic” for the hardcore fans. Thus, despite the change in style, the group doesn’t lose its songwriting identity as every number here, bar maybe
Song For A Dreamer, retains the trademark “complex catchiness” of Procol Harum with ease. Whether it’ll be the heavy riffage of
Simple Sister or the contemplating melodic twists on
Broken Barricades, the group makes sure you go home humming the tunes.
The harder musical territory of the album has also an effect on the production, as the legendary keyboard duo of Brooker and Copping (initially Fisher) only plays a leading role on
Luskus Delph and the title track. Both are slow, melancholic pieces in the classic Procol vein, punctuated by contemplating passages on the Hammond organ while Brooker is busy offering rhythm playing to the tunes.
Song For A Dreamer is another oddball production-wise, as it models itself after Hendrix’s
Third Stone From The Sun. Notice the abstract guitars and the slow, lethargic drumming; it is a clear homage to Jimi and completes, thematically at least, the whole “back to the roots” concept of the record. As for the rest tunes, Trower is the hero, leading the way with his interesting, crunchy guitar tones and wild, but precise soloing throughout.
And what way he leads the band to! The interaction between the distorted guitars and the Brooker/Copping duel is astonishing, as witnessed on
Memorial Drive; the guitar riff is roughly replicated by the keyboards, thus giving a very thick and layered sound, but subtle at the same time. The minimalistic use of bass during the track is notable, too; it stops and starts multiple times throughout, thus making the instrumental breaks even more intense.
Power Failure is a terrific showcase for drummer B. J. Wilson; not only he performs a fantastic and energetic drum solo in the middle of the song, he also benefits the tune with an extraordinary groove that, while not fast, is relentless nevertheless, giving Trower more room for guitar wizardry.
Playmate Of The Mouth delves into mid-tempo barroom rock stylistically, complete with sporadic bursts of brass instruments that only enhance the “down to earth” vibe of the record, while the closing
Poor Mohammed explores the riffing possibilities of the slide guitar before erupting in an energetic, frenzied solo during the coda. It all comes down to
Simple Sister, though; it encapsulates the whole album to a tee. It boasts a splendid riff, extremely catchy vocals, passionate performances from all and most importantly, it serves as a perfect bridge between “ballsy” hard rock and “sophisticated” classical music. The main guitar figure is more complicated than it appears to be on first listen and the rhythm section is not content with the basic 4/4 structure of most hard rock songs, as it incorporates nuanced twists and shifts throughout to spice things up. Simply immaculate.
In the end, while the record doesn’t sport the classic Procol Harum sound, it serves as an interesting and successful alternative to it by focusing on the guitar brilliance of Robin Trower. Moreover, the majority of the compositions found here are all essential listening for anyone interested in the group and, frankly speaking, I would be hard pressed to find a Procol record that’s more energetic than this one. And that alone makes the album a big, rocking highlight.
