Roy Harper – Lifemask (Harvest 1973)

Roy Harper could do no wrong artistically in this time period. Lifemask was another classic album, that in my view is in the same class as its predecessor – the almighty ‘Stormcock’-album. On the first side of it, you’ll find shorter songs, while the whole second side is taken up by the incredibly epic ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. To start with the latter: This is really a tone poem, with lyrics that can be interpreted in lots of ways. But in essence, it’s a reflection over life, death, time passing, joy, love and man’s inhumanity to man. Yes, Roy Harper wasn’t exactly afraid to dive into the biggest and most fundamental of topics. Musically as well as lyrically, this is really something else… it’s a trip, with lots of weird vocal effects, twists and turns. It’s also something that I guess no other artist than Roy Harper could have done, even though this album was made in what has to be the most insanely creative period in musical history (I’m excluding classical music here…). Obviously this won’t be to anyone’s taste, but that can be said about this artist in general. He is, however, for me. The first side starts off with the very rock oriented ‘Highway Blues’. This one really swings, and his vocals are truly awesome here. ‘Bank of The Dead’ is also in the rock-territory, and features a guest appearance by a certain Jimmy Page. These two were no strangers, and also collaborated on ‘Stormcock’. But the album also features very quiet and melancholic songs. ‘All Ireland’, ‘Little Lady’ and ‘South Africa’ are all wonderful. Very atmospheric and dreamy music, which is something he was – and still is – so incredibly capable of making. So, ‘Lifemask’ is an utterly fantastic album, but it’s even less accessible that other albums by him from this era. Newcomers should start with either ‘Flat Baroque and Berserk’ or ‘Stormcock’.