Octoberon

by Barclay James Harvest

Overview

With Wolstenholme's keyboards pushed back in the mix, and strangely missing the harmonies that enriched their earlier work, Octoberon is something of a departure for the band. While Wolstenholme's stately "Ra" shows a dabbling in mysticism and the soaring sound of their previous work, most of the album is a strangely glum affair. John Lees adopts a pub rock sound in his compositions, although "May Day" manages to veer unexpectedly into a glorious choral and organ arrangement. "Polk Street Rag," despite its name, is a slick rocker about a sordid X-rated movie house in San Francisco. There's a black humor throughout, as in this brutally funny line from "Suicide?": "Heard a voice shouting 'Don't jump, please for God's sake let me move my car.'" Not up to the level of their best work, but worth a listen for fans. ~ Paul Collins

Product Details

Release Date:	10/01/2021
Label:	Universal
UPC:	4988031444344
Rank:	51904

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Barclay James Harvest   Primary Artist
Woolly Wolstenholme   Keyboards,Vocals
Les Holroyd   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocal Harmony
Mel Pritchard   Percussion,Drums
Richie Close   Conductor
John Lees   Guitar (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Vocal Harmony,Vocals,Guitar

Technical Credits

Stuart Wolstenholme   Composer
Barclay James Harvest   Producer
Patrick Halling   Leader
David Rohl   Producer,Engineer
Richie Close   String Arrangements,Vocal Arrangement
John Lees   Composer
Les Holroyd   Composer
Woolly Wolstenholme   Composer