Barclay James Harvest - Sea Of Tranquility: The Polydor Years 1974- 1997

Melodic prog given time to mature

Major labels are notorious for embarking on ruthless culls of their rosters, clearing space for newer signings they hope might perform better in the marketplace than some of their less coffers-boosting long-serving war horses. Fair play, then, to Barclay James Harvest for having the staying power to call one house their home for 23 years, without ever achieving A-list recognition.

Mixing classical influences with prog, BJH often found themselves compared to Procol Harum or The Moody Blues, though the more pastoral elements of their orchestral leanings suggested a clash between Elgar and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The albums Time Honoured Ghosts and Octoberon, both well represented here, brought BJH closest to mainstream recognition, while Titles, a song whose lyrics mostly comprise a succession of Beatles titles, was a radio favourite of 1978 without ever crossing over into the charts.

The Fabs get another look-in on 1990’s John Lennon’s Guitar, the band by this time exploring folkier motifs, most prevalent on The Ballad Of Denshaw Mill and the clumsy political comment of Children Of The Disappeared. Bold musical explorers, not always hitting the target, but it’s reassuring that sympathetic paymasters gave them so long to follow their muse.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

Esoteric | ECLEC 32157 (3-CD)

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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