Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Procol Harum
Label: A&M Records / Interscope
Release date: 01.04.1971
Running time: 35:06
Rating: 4.5/5
»Broken Barriacades« was the fifth studio album from British progressive rock pioneers Procol Harum, and also their last with legendary blues guitarist Robin Trower in the lineup. Trower, a blues rocker to the bone, realized while writing and recording »Broken Barricades« that there were irreconcilable differences between him and the rest of the band over the cult group’s future sound. Even so, the album held some of his finest songwriting as a member of Procol Harum, led by »Song For A Dreamer«, which he wrote with lyricist Keith Reid as a tribute to the legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Brooker and Reid were deeply shaken by Hendrix’s death at just 27.
Besides Reid, who (apart from Peter Sinfield of King Crimson) was the only lyricist of that era to be a full-time band member without also playing an instrument, the one who emerged as Procol Harum’s main sonic visionary on »Broken Barricades«, especially after Trower’s departure, was the iconic singer and pianist Gary Brooker, who pushed for more baroque orchestral arrangements relative to the traditional blues rock guitar finesse. On »Broken Barricades« that balance still sits fairly evenly on the scales, and although the album has shorter tracks that never stretch past six minutes, overall it’s one of Procol Harum’s better efforts and easily counts among their classic albums.
The symphonic rock evergreen »Simple Sister« is the energetic opener fans more or less expect from this legendary prog rock band. A mighty blues rock riff rules here, and with its dramatic piano arrangement and Brooker’s passionate vocal delivery it gradually takes on almost epic proportions. The rumbling bass runs of keyboardist and occasional bassist Chris Copping add an extra jolt of energy. Trower also grabs a short, typically bluesy solo along the way, nicely spicing up the overall symphonic character of this still-impressive piece. The title track, with its calm nature and almost nonchalant lyrics, makes for a wonderfully fitting ambient contrast. Brooker’s wryly seasoned vocal this time moves almost to the beat of a children’s lullaby, helped along generously by his hammond organ accompaniment, backed up by BJ Wilson’s witty drumming quirks.
»Memorial Drive« is an interesting change of pace, as it’s one of the toughest songs of their career, basically a hard rocker with an impressive, fiery guitar phrase and spirited drum fills. Brooker once again impresses with an emotionally rich vocal performance, while juicy piano arrangements add some lovely symphonic embellishments. The orchestral ballad »Luskus Delph« is a total triumph for Procol Harum’s symphonic side, ruled by mighty, melodramatic orchestral arrangements that sit in superb harmony with Brooker’s melancholy singing. The more-than-odd song title is something that could only have grown in Reid’s own garden, and even today, more than four decades on, it remains an enigma.
»Power Failure« is another energetic rocker with a spirited rhythmic feel, lively percussion and mischievous keyboard passages. BJ Wilson’s long percussion solo also brings in an untypical and, for the time, undoubtedly innovative whiff of world music. In the middle, a deliberately recorded effect of an enthusiastically applauding crowd brings in the pulse of a live atmosphere, adding even more spice to the spirited character of this solid Brooker composition. On the previously mentioned »Song For A Dreamer«, a very tasty mix of blues and psychedelia, the lead vocal duties go to Trower, in great form both vocally and on guitar. This is without a doubt the most untypical Procol Harum piece on the whole album. It’s obvious that Trower’s ambient blend of psychedelia and blues rock, whose sprawling guitar improvisations still thrill every guitar gourmet today, was a perfect sonic and lyrical tribute to Hendrix, who died far too young.
Procol Harum wouldn’t be Procol Harum if they didn’t put at least one tune with a burlesque undertone on every album. On »Broken Barricades« that honor went to »Playmate Of The Month«, which already through its title and lyrics signals that it’s a tongue-in-cheek burlesque at the expense of scantily clad girls on the covers (or back pages) of the tabloid press. Brooker’s singing is deliberately a little grimacing this time, while a drowsy guitar phrase and a cheeky piano over swaying rhythms crank up the playful atmosphere even more. On the closing, fairly minimalist blues rocker »Poor Mohammed«, where the obvious stylistic differences between the iconic guitarist and the rest of the band can once again be heard, the lead vocal baton passes once more to the soon-to-depart Trower. The dirty guitar riff is backed by his throaty singing, while the rhythms, especially on piano, follow classic, melancholy blues rock beats.
»Broken Barricades« ranks among the classic Procol Harum studio achievements, one that still thrills today with its distinctive blend of symphonic rock, psychedelia and blues rock, which was extremely innovative for its time. This stylistically well-balanced effort may not have had an unforgettable evergreen epic in the vein of the unforgettable »A Whiter Shade Of Pale«, »Homburg«, »In Held ‘Twas in I« or »A Salty Dog«, but it still had plenty of other goodies that also played an important part in the development of (symphonic) progressive rock.
Lineup
Gary Brooker – vocals and piano
Robin Trower – guitar and vocals on tracks 6 and 8
Chris Copping – hammond organ and bass guitar
BJ Wilson – drums
Keith Reid – lyrics
Production
Chris Thomas
Tracklist
1. Simple Sister
2. Broken Barricades
3. Memorial Drive
4. Luskus Delph
5. Power Failure
6. Song For A Dreamer
7. Playmate Of The Month
8. Poor Mohammed
