Man and Myth

Last updated

Man & Myth
Man & Myth, album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Roy Harper
Released23 September 2013
RecordedIreland, USA, UK
Genre Folk, folk baroque, indie folk
Length51.28
Label Bella Union
Producer Roy Harper with additional production by Jonathan Wilson and John Fitzgerald
Roy Harper chronology
The Green Man
(2000)		Man & Myth
(2013)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 85/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [5]
Daily Express Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [6]
The Australian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Financial Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [9]
musicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [10]
Pitchfork Media Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]

Man & Myth is the title of Roy Harper's 22nd studio album. Released 47 years after his debut album, Sophisticated Beggar , it is his first studio release in 13 years.

Contents

Background

When questioned during a Reuters interview about the time span between his album releases, Harper explained: "I thought I had retired...I was in one world, but the next world had found me, so I had to respond to it. That meant gathering my wits and going forward with a new record." [12] "I've written poetry, prose, essays and articles and gone through the motions of being Roy, but I didn’t have the will to make another album until recently..." said Harper. "...I was inspired to write again around 2009, by many of the younger generation finding me and asking, who are you?". [13]

Recording

Of the seven tracks, four were recorded with Jonathan Wilson at his Fivestar Studios in Echo Park. "Heaven Is Here", "The Exile", and "January Man" were recorded in County Cork. [14] Pete Townshend plays lead guitar on "Cloud Cuckooland".

Album promotion

On 18 July 2013 Mojo magazine's website featured the track "Time is Temporary" as their Track of the Day. [15]

""Time is Temporary" is the sound of a man who is capable of contemplating his mortality as well as musing on coincidence, convergence and circumstance" said Harper. The track is "based on a thought... that maybe I will pass you in the street, or in a train, or a restaurant, and we'll look at each other and have the same sort of feelings, but never take it any further, never take the next step that both of us seemed to want to, so we'll never know what might have been". [16]

In the run up to the album's release, Harper was interviewed by Laura Rawlings on her BBC Radio Bristol show on 15 August 2013. The interview closed with the track "Desert Island", from Harper's 1988 release Descendants of Smith , being played.

On the album's release date, 23 September 2013, Harper played an in-store performance at Rough Trade East, London. A limited number of tickets were available to those who purchased the album in store that day, and the event was also streamed live to 1000 viewers who had pre-ordered the album and been given a pass. [17]

Critical reception

The album received favourable reviews from many critics and journalists alike. Molloy Woodcraft, writing for The Observer , called the album "an absolute corker" and "a great record". [3] Reviewing for the Music website, Drowned in Sound, Matthew Slaughter stated "...it’s a record of reflection, of experimentation, sometimes of egotism, often of near-mystical sadness". [18] "Restless, melodic and endlessly absorbing, Man & Myth is the sound of an artist at the peak of his power" was the conclusion by Martin Townsend in his review for the Daily Express . [6] Steve Creedy reviewing for The Australian stated the album "compares well with illustrious predecessors such as Stormcock and HQ" and that it was "a welcome addition to a remarkable career". [7] The Financial Times reviewer, Ludovic Hunter-Tilney awarded the album four out of five stars and said "acoustic guitar melodies meander along gracefully, building into moments of great agitation; raw emotional honesty coexists with mythmaking lyrics romanticising Harper as the eternal outsider". [8] Writing for Goldmine, Dave Thompson proclaimed Man and Myth to be "a genuine triumph, a magnificent achievement...this isn’t a 'return to form'. It’s business as brilliant [as] usual. [19] Allmusic reviewer Thom Jurek praised Harper's writing for remaining "keen and opulent" and stated that his "loopy phrasing and lyrics lie in their own country" existing "outside of the usual singer-songwriter tropes". His melismatic phrasing is as musical as the gorgeous strings, guitars, drums, and mellotrons in the sonic architecture framing his voice. Man and Myth is Harper at his best, fully in command of his vision, his curious, lovely melodic sensibility, and, of course, his poetry". [2]

In November 2013, Mojo placed Man and Myth at 39 in their list of the top 50 Albums of 2013. The song, "January Man" was mentioned as the stand out track, and was included on their 'Best of 2013' Covermount CD. [20] Uncut placed Man & Myth at 6 in their top 50 Albums of 2013. A track from the album was also placed on their 'Sound of 2013' Covermount CD, January 2014 issue. [21]

Man and Myth UK Tour

In support of the album's release Harper undertook a short, three date, UK tour, performing at the Royal Festival Hall, London, (22 October), the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (25 October) and the Colston Hall, Bristol (27 October). At each performance he was accompanied by Jonathan Wilson (following Wilson's opening acoustic set) and supported by a string and brass ensemble performing arrangements by Fiona Brice.

Formats

The album is available in three formats. CD, a limited edition, double gatefold, three sided, heavyweight (180g) vinyl LP with etching on the fourth side (Compact disc included), and as an MP3 or FLAC download from Harper's website.

Track listing

All tracks credited to Roy Harper

  1. The Enemy—7:34
  2. Time Is Temporary—4:57
  3. January Man—4:32
  4. The Stranger—5:26
  5. Cloud Cuckooland—5:44
  6. Heaven Is Here—15:24
  7. The Exile—7:55

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Led Zeppelin III</i> 1970 studio album by Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin III is the third studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 5 October 1970. It was recorded in three locations. Much of the work was done at Headley Grange, a country house, using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. Additional sessions were held at Island Studios and Olympic Studios in London. As with the prior album, the band eschewed the use of guest musicians, with all music performed by band members Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitars), John Paul Jones, and John Bonham (drums). The range of instruments played by the band was greatly enhanced on this album, with Jones especially emerging as a talented multi-instrumentalist, playing a wide range of keyboard and stringed instruments, including various synthesizers, mandolin and double bass, in addition to his usual bass guitar. As with prior albums, Page served as producer on the album, with mixing done by Andy Johns and Terry Manning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Harper (singer)</span> British singer-songwriter (b. 1941)

Roy Harper is an English folk rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has released 22 studio albums across a career that stretches back to 1966. As a musician, Harper is known for his distinctive fingerstyle playing and lengthy, lyrical, complex compositions, reflecting his love of jazz and the poet John Keats. He was the lead vocalist on Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar.”

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wreckless Eric</span> Musical artist

Eric Goulden, known as Wreckless Eric, is an English rock and new wave singer-songwriter, best known for his 1977 single "Whole Wide World" on Stiff Records. More than two decades after its release, the song was included in Mojo magazine's list of the best punk rock singles of all time. It was also acclaimed as one of the "top 40 singles of the alternative era 1975–2000".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Have a Cigar</span> 1975 single by Pink Floyd featuring Roy Harper

"Have a Cigar" is the third track on Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. It follows "Welcome to the Machine" and on the original LP opened side two. In some markets, the song was issued as a single. English folk-rock singer Roy Harper provided lead vocals on the song. It is one of only three Pink Floyd recordings with a guest singer on lead vocals, the others being "The Great Gig in the Sky" (1973) with Clare Torry and "Hey Hey Rise Up" (2022) with Andriy Khlyvnyuk. The song, written by Waters, is his critique of the rampant greed and cynicism so prevalent in the management of rock groups of that era.

<i>Five Leaves Left</i> 1969 studio album by Nick Drake

Five Leaves Left is the debut studio album by English folk musician Nick Drake. Recorded between 1968 and 1969, it was released in 1969 by Island Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVC 15</span> 1976 song by David Bowie

"TVC 15" is a song by the English musician David Bowie, released on his 1976 album Station to Station. RCA Records later released it as the second single from the album on 30 April 1976. The song was recorded in late 1975 at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. Co-produced by Bowie and Harry Maslin, the recording featured guitarists Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick, bassist George Murray, drummer Dennis Davis, pianist Roy Bittan and Warren Peace on backing vocals. The upbeat song is mostly art rock performed in a style reminiscent of the 1950s. Lyrically, the song concerns a character's girlfriend being eaten by a television set. It was inspired by a dream of Iggy Pop's and Bowie's role in The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). Some lyrics are also influenced by the Yardbirds and Kraftwerk.

"Black Country Rock" is a song by the English musician David Bowie, released on his 1970 album The Man Who Sold the World. The song was recorded in May 1970, with sessions taking place at Trident and Advision Studios in London. The lineup featured Bowie on lead vocals, guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist/producer Tony Visconti, drummer Mick Woodmansey and Ralph Mace on Moog synthesiser. The track was mostly composed by Ronson and Visconti, who developed it using a basic song sketch from Bowie. Labelled under the working title "Black Country Rock", Bowie used the title to write the lyrics towards the end of the sessions, resulting in a repeated two-line verse and chorus. A blues rock and hard rock number, Bowie imitates T. Rex's Marc Bolan in his vocal performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay (David Bowie song)</span> 1976 song by David Bowie

"Stay" is a song by the English musician David Bowie, released on his 1976 album Station to Station. The song was recorded in late 1975 at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. Co-produced by Bowie and Harry Maslin, the recording featured guitarists Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick, bassist George Murray, drummer Dennis Davis, pianist Roy Bittan and Warren Peace on percussion. The track features prominent dual guitar work from Slick and Alomar, who mostly composed it in the studio. Based on the chord structure of "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)", a funk reworking of "John, I'm Only Dancing" (1972), "Stay" emulates funk rock, soul and hard rock. The song's lyrics are abstract and relate to love.

<i>The Great Western</i> 2006 studio album by James Dean Bradfield

The Great Western is the debut solo studio album by the Manic Street Preachers vocalist-guitarist James Dean Bradfield, released on 24 July 2006 by Columbia Records.

<i>Lifemask</i> 1973 studio album by Roy Harper

Lifemask is the sixth album by English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Roy Harper, and was first released in 1973 by Harvest Records.

<i>Stormcock</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Roy Harper

Stormcock is the fifth studio album by English folk/rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Roy Harper. First released in May 1971 by Harvest Records, it is widely considered his best record.

<i>The Unfairground</i> 2007 studio album by Kevin Ayers

The Unfairground is a 2007 album by Kevin Ayers, recorded with members of Ladybug Transistor, Teenage Fanclub, Neutral Milk Hotel, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Roxy Music. It was his sixteenth studio LP and his first new set of recordings in fifteen years, as well as the last album released before his death in 2013. It was recorded in New York City; Tucson, Arizona; London; and Glasgow. It debuted at No. 14 in the UK Indie Album chart.

<i>Attack & Release</i> 2008 studio album by The Black Keys

Attack & Release is the fifth studio album by American rock duo The Black Keys. It was produced by Danger Mouse and was released on April 1, 2008. The sessions saw the band transitioning away from their "homemade" ethos to record-making; not only was it the first time that the band completed an album in a professional studio, but it was also the first time they hired an outside producer to work on a record.

<i>The Fountain</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Echo & the Bunnymen

The Fountain is the eleventh studio album by British band Echo & the Bunnymen. It was released on 12 October 2009 and produced by John McLaughlin, Ian McCulloch and Simon Perry. The first single from the album, "Think I Need It Too", was released on 28 September 2009.

<i>Mojo</i> (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album) 2010 studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Mojo is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on June 15, 2010, on CD and June 29 on Blu-ray. It was Petty's first album with the Heartbreakers in eight years. Mojo debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 125,000 copies in its first week of release. The album was also the band's first full album with bassist Ron Blair since 1981's Hard Promises, as he played on only two tracks on the previous Heartbreakers album, The Last DJ.

<i>Smoke Ring for My Halo</i> 2011 studio album by Kurt Vile

Smoke Ring for My Halo is the fourth studio album by American indie rock musician Kurt Vile, released on March 8, 2011 on Matador. A deluxe edition was released in November 2011, including the subsequent EP, So Outta Reach (2011). The album was produced by John Agnello, Kurt Vile and his backing band, the Violators. Regarding the album's lyrical content, Vile stated: "It’s just me and those thoughts you have late at night when nobody is around. It is more a feeling than a statement – a general wandering feeling. It’s kind of a wandering record."

<i>Demolished Thoughts</i> 2011 studio album by Thurston Moore

Demolished Thoughts is the third solo studio album by American musician Thurston Moore. Mojo placed the album at number 18 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011" while Uncut placed the album at number 23.

<i>Gentle Spirit</i> 2011 studio album by Jonathan Wilson

Gentle Spirit is the first official studio album released by Los Angeles artist Jonathan Wilson. It was released in the United Kingdom and Europe on August 8, 2011, and in the United States on September 13, 2011, on Bella Union and received the No. 4 spot on Mojo Magazine's 2011 Best of Albums of the Year. The album was recorded at Wilson's former studio in Laurel Canyon and mixed at his new studio in Echo Park.

<i>Take Me to the Land of Hell</i> 2013 studio album by Plastic Ono Band

Take Me to the Land of Hell is the 2013 album by Yoko Ono's band Plastic Ono Band. It is her fifteenth solo album overall and Ono's third since reforming the Plastic Ono Band in 2009 with her son Sean Lennon. It features guests Yuka C Honda, Keigo "Cornelius" Oyamada, Hirotaka "Shimmy" Shimizu, Yuko Araki, Nels Cline, Tune-Yards, Questlove, Ad-Rock & Mike D, Michael Leonhart, Bill Dobrow, Jared Samuel, Shahzad Ismaily, Lenny Kravitz, Andrew Wyatt, Erik Friedlander, Lois Martin, Joyce Hammann, Thomas Bartlett, Douglas Wieselman, Julian Lage, Toyoaki Mishima, Toru Takayama, Christopher Sean Powell, Christopher Allen, Andre Kellman, Michael H. Brauer, Bob Ludwig, Kevin Harper, Mark Bengston, Geoff Thorpe and Greg Kadel.

<i>Beyond the Door</i> (DVD) 2005 live album by Roy Harper

Beyond the Door is Harper's first ever DVD release. The DVD combines studio footage recorded at Harper's home in February, August and September 2005, with images, illustrations, animations, "The Death of God" song video, and live performance footage recorded on 22 and 29 July 2004 at the Irish folk club "De Barra's" in Clonakilty, Cork of Harper accompanied by Matt Churchill.

References

  1. ↑ "Man & Myth Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 Jurek, Thom (23 September 2013). Man & Myth – Roy Harper | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic. Allmusic. Retrieved on 26 October 2013.
  3. 1 2 Woodcraft, Molloy (22 September 2013). Review: Man and Myth. The Observer. Retrieved on 23 September 2013.
  4. ↑ Denselow, Robin (19 September 2013). Review: Man and Myth. The Guardian. Retrieved on 23 September 2013.
  5. ↑ Rathbone, Oregano (18 September 2013). Review: Man and Myth. Record Collector. Retrieved on 1 October 2013.
  6. 1 2 Townsend, Martin (22 September 2013). Review: Man and Myth. Daily Express. Retrieved on 5 October 2013.
  7. 1 2 Creedy, Steve (5 October 2013). Review: Man and Myth. The Australian. Retrieved on 5 October 2013.
  8. 1 2 Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (20 September 2013). Review: Man and Myth. Financial Times. Retrieved on 23 November 2013.
  9. ↑ Jones, Allan (20 October 2013). Review: Man and Myth. Uncut. Retrieved on 30 November 2013.
  10. ↑ Clarke, Helen (23 September 2013). Review: Man and Myth. musicOMH. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  11. ↑ Heller, Jason (7 October 2013). Review: Man and Myth. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Harper responds to interest in him by younger generation". London: reuters.com/. Retrieved 3 August 2013.[ dead link ]
  13. ↑ "Harpers comments on his 13 year recording hiatus". London: bellaunion.com. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Roy Harpers new album release". London: bellaunion.com. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Mojo magazine features Harpers new song as 'track of the day'". London: mojo4music.com/accessdate=21 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "Harpers comments on new song". London: mojo4music.com. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Harpers in store performance at Rough Trade". London: roughtrade.com. Retrieved 22 November 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. ↑ Slaughter, Matthew (19 September 2013). Man and Myth Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine . Drowned in Sound. Retrieved on 22 November 2013.
  19. ↑ Thompson, Dave (17 October 2013). Review Man and Myth. Goldmine magazine. Retrieved on 01 December 2013.
  20. ↑ (30 November 2013). Mojo magazine's top 50 albums of 2013 Archived 9 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine . Mojo magazine. Retrieved on 30 November 2013.
  21. ↑ (30 November 2013). Uncut magazine's top 50 albums of 2013. Uncut magazine. Retrieved on 30 November 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.