Procol HarumBeyond
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Emma Sedam • 20 April 2017 • Rebeat • online here
Procol Harum Returns With ‘Novum,’ Their First Studio
Album in 14 Years
Procol Harum hit the ball out of the park with their first, self-titled
album fifty years ago. But contrary to what some might believe, they didn’t
stop there. The band has continued to play progressive rock music ever
since. Their latest release is Novum, their first studio album in
fourteen years.
A young, fairy-like woman featured in Julia Brown’s original cover artwork
instantly draws you in; it’s an homage to the band’s début album. It’s a
captivating image of a woman at one with both nature and music in a style
from a bygone era. It’s the kind of cover that reminds us of yet another
reason records are such a great means of enjoying creative work.
The album itself is a mix of clever songwriting and solid musicianship but
also often dated production and arrangement. Procol Harum has always been
heavily influenced by blues and R&B, and it can be heard prominently in
their sound on Novum. At the best of times, Novum is a jam
session. At the worst of times, it still sounds like a great forgotten album
from the early ’90s.
Novum starts off strong with the blusey I Told on You, which shows
off the band’s skills. Only Gary Brooker remains from the original 1967
lineup, but the majority of the current band has been together for over
twenty years. They’re all seasoned veterans who have played with many
respected acts like Jethro Tull, Van Morrison, Jimmy Page, Roger Daltrey,
and Pete Townshend. I Told on You shows off their musical training
while remaining congruent with the work of Procol Harum and serving as a
reminder of why the full band has been so accepted by fans.
Last Chance Motel wasn’t the chosen single for the album,
but it’s the most memorable song. It’s such an earworm that by the time I
listened to the album for the second time, I had convinced myself that it was a
cover of a famous song I’d never really paid attention to before. It’s not
though — it’s a completely original piece about falling in love and lust with
your friend’s spouse. The tale also ends with a somewhat graphic and violent
tragedy. Overall, it’s a chilling tale and a brilliant bit of songwriting.
The actual single, Sunday Morning, is an understandable choice. It’s
somewhere between a ballad and a rock song. It’s also a showcase of Gary
Brooker’s gravelly and emotional voice, and the balance of the band takes a more
understated approach to the backing than they often do. Listen for shades of the
Beatles’ Piggies in the first few seconds of the intro.
Pete Brown was responsible for the majority of the lyrics on the album, and his
words shine most brightly on Soldier, [words
actually by Gary Brooker], written an ardent, very modern anti-war track.
The syntax is purely poetic. As a group that began in the ’60s, one might expect
Procol Harum’s image of war to be based on the war of their parents (WWII) or
Vietnam, but instead, Soldier makes references to the more recent oil
wars in the Middle East.
Another interesting bit of verse appears on The Only One. A casual listen
makes it sound like your average song about relationships or even depression,
but it’s quite an emotional ballad from the point of view of God. As with Joan
Osborne’s One of Us, the lyrical tone is melancholy, imagining a lonely
god.
A good bit of fun is found on Neighbour, a tale of keeping up with the
Joneses and going a bit mad doing so. The end product sounds as though the
Barron Knights are covering Ben Folds’s Your Dogs. It’s not the strongest
piece on the album but is clearly intended to be playful, a welcome tone among
many weighty subjects.
Several tracks have a very timely distaste for money and those involved with it,
namely Image of the Beast and Businessman. Dishonest greed is a
theme that runs through the album, whether it be financial, or sexual (Last
Chance Motel), or a lust for power (Can’t Say That). Image of the
Beast is the most timeless and blues-driven track on the album, and
discusses the way money weaves its tendrils through society. While the track
could be the theme song of the Illuminati, Businessman is the brutal
takedown of those who prey on consumerism. The guitar work on both is
spectacular.
The only romantic song, Somewhen, serves as the collection’s closer.
Brooker’s voice doesn’t always deliver on this one, and unfortunately makes it
one of the weakest points on the album overall.
Novum is a very interesting listen. The songwriters are clearly very
skilled, and it’s no wonder that fans have followed their work for fifty years.
Despite the passage of time since the band’s inception, many of the hot topics
of 1967, such as war, greed, and religion continue to be relevant subjects, and
when the songs discuss them, they do so in a completely contemporary manner.
It’s also great to see that, despite changing lineups, Procol Harum has
maintained its sound and quality. Even if you haven’t been following the band,
you’ll almost certainly find something of interest in these quality songs by a
truly classic musical outfit.
About the album | Get Novum: Amazon UK / Amazon USA | |
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