Search - Barclay James Harvest :: Nexus

New classic songs

Arne Marco Kirsebom | 09/11/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"«Nexus» is a very important recording for the fans of Barclay James Harvest but also for new listeners. Eventough it is seen through the eyes of John Lees it is a real BJH-album. The good news is the cooperation between him and Wooly Wolstenholme, who left the group nearly 20 years ago for a another career. And it works very well on this album, that have a very strong line and strength between the songs. And this is remarkable, because seven songs are new and five are old. But the songs work very well together, and it is very interesting to hear the new versions of the old songs. Especially the very beautiful «Hymn» from the 1977 album «Gone to Earth». In that album the group used acoustic guitars for the instrumentation, but in «Nexus» the version is mainly with keyboard. But it sounds very good and has a very good developing, rising to the final crescendo. And the characteristic voice of John is clear and bright. Also «Mocking Bird» has reached a nice and mature form, and the duet between John and Wooly is very good. «The Iron Maiden», «Titles» and «Loving is Easy» are all very well mixed and of high quality. But the new material is a real gift and stroked me. This are songs of mature men who have developed their level of reflection in their lives and they have written good and partly deep new texts. There are not simple lovesongs, but texts with a good level. The opening «Festival» is very interesting in the instrumentation, alltough this is the song I liked less. The refrain does not function, it lacks something. «Brave new World» contents a view back and shows the reflection I mentioned. The final piano and drums ends the song in a good way. After the song a nice little instrumental piece «Hors d'Oeuvre» constructs a solid bridge to «Mocking Bird». «Sitting upon a Shelf» was directly my personal favorite, because it describes a desperate situation in a persons life, where the limit to insanity are close and it gives some reminder of personal experiences. The voice in the song and the instrumentation gives the content strength and credibility. «The Devils that I keep» is in the same line of selfreflection. The voice of Wooly is working very good in this song and is very convincing. «Float» holds the strength and has a nice instrumental introduction and a beautiful refrain. And the final «Star Bright» is John on the best. It is probably the best song in quality and wholeness. Everything works perfect, the voice of John, the instrumentation, especially Johns sologuitar. «Nexus» is a musthave and demonstrates the high musical quality of rockmusicians who are more that 30 years in the game and are able to produce future classics and are still enriching the world of music. I dearly hope, that we will get a the next BJH-album not only with Wooly and John but also with the two other group members Mel Pritchard and Les Holroyd."

Breathtaking

Arne Marco Kirsebom | 05/28/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Lees got his friend and former BJH keyboard player Woolly Wolstenholme out of the Welsh valleys to create this album. Woolly hadn't made any music for nearly twenty years, but boy, when it came it was worth the wait. The album is a mix of 6 BJH classics re-recorded with new arrangements, and 6 new songs that are Lees/Wolstenholme collaborations. Of the re-recordings, "Mockingbird" is perhaps the best version ever with an awesome orchestral rendering that is powerful without suffering the sentimentality of previous versions whilst "Loving Is Easy" benefits from some wonderful harmonica from Woolly and a nice bluesy feel. There are also very nice versions of "Hymn" and "The Iron Maiden". Of the new songs, "Float" is for Wolstenholme lovers (like "Sunday Bells" or "Maestoso"), and album closer "Starbright" is perhaps the most beautiful Lees song ever (the guitar solo is similar to "After The Day"). Every song is a winner. The album is selling very well in the wake of a very successful European tour, and was a huge hit with BJH fans.The album would appeal very much to fans of "Everyone is Everybody Else", "Once Again", "Octoberon" or "XII".Well arranged, mature, beautiful, thought provoking. Classic BJH."