Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Procol Harum
Label: Eagle Records
Release: 2017
Length: 56:04
Rating: 3.5/5
It’s been fifty years since the English prog-rock pioneers Procol Harum wowed young and old in 1967 with their debut album »Procol Harum« and the song »A Whiter Shade of Pale«, laying one of the cornerstones of a new genre that would later become known as progressive rock. »Novum« is Procol Harum’s first studio album in fourteen years, since »The Well’s On Fire« (2003), and their first without founding member and lyricist Keith Reid. He’s been replaced by Pete Brown, best known for his work with Cream and Jack Bruce. That makes singer Gary Brooker the last founding member standing and the only musician who has been part of every Procol Harum incarnation so far. In a career that was interrupted between 1977 and 1991, Procol Harum never put out a bad album, and they’re now one of the last bands from the golden age of psychedelic and progressive rock that’s still active. Mind you, the wait for a new record was so long that most fans had become convinced their studio days ended with »The Well’s On Fire«.
Plenty of people were skeptical, of course, about whether a band with that much mileage could, after such a long studio break, still deliver something that measures up to their mostly highly impressive discography. The first good signs were the cover, with its mystical woman who’s a bit reminiscent of the cult debut, and the return of the original, psychedelic-tinged Procol Harum logo. Fifty years have passed since then, and time is merciless to everyone. Gary Brooker turns seventy-two this year, and it noticeably shows in his voice on »Novum«, though he’s still got that unmistakable, hugely charismatic and romantic timbre. Josh Phillips, who took over the organ from founding member Matthew Fisher in 2004, does a pretty good job on »Novum« of recreating the velvety organ sound that marked some of Procol Harum’s past classics. Guitarist Geoff Whitehorn, who has been a thoroughly fitting successor to Robin Trower since 1991 with his sparkling, mostly blues-leaning solos, is one of the main reasons these tough old prog pioneers are still going.
The opener »I Told On You« is a fairly typical Procol Harum track that successfully blends present and past, thanks to bluesy guitar passages, juicy layers of Hammond organ and Brooker’s nostalgic vocals. »Last Chance Motel« is a romantic ballad that’s a bit reminiscent of some of their earlier ones. A slow start gives way to a nostalgic section full of piano arrangements. Even with Brooker’s audibly worn voice, the old magic is still there for most of the song. Soaked in a light blues pulse, »Image of the Beast« has harder-rocking guitar and organ passages that will appeal to Deep Purple fans too. »Soldier«, »Don’t Get Caught«, »Sunday Morning« and »The Only One« are ballads steeped in nostalgia, with rich symphonic arrangements and impressive guitar-and-organ passages, while Brooker squeezes the most he can out of his visibly tired voice at his age, so it all still comes off well. Procol Harum prove they’re still masters of the heart-wrenching ballad.
»Neighbour« is a cheeky number with that typical English black humor and a playful use of harmonica, while the band casually slips in a well-known circus motif. Humorous pieces like this simply have to be on every Procol Harum album. »Businessman« also has a slightly burlesque tone, though it’s much more upbeat and unusually punchy. With its playful, bluesy passages and Brooker’s cynicism, it pokes fun at the champions of modern, runaway capitalism. »Can’t Say That« is the most ambitious and complex track on the album, with a longer instrumental section that flirts with funk and jazz in places. The closing piece »Somewhen« is yet another moving ballad, with Brooker’s emotionally all-in singing, this time alone at the piano with no accompaniment from his bandmates.
»Novum« is the best gift Procol Harum could have given their devoted fans to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the legendary band. With »Novum«, the ‘old cats’ have proven they can still make a very good album, one worthy of their famous legacy from the days when progressive rock was still young, even if we have to accept that Brooker’s voice isn’t what it used to be. No single track on »Novum« really stands out, which means there’s nothing here on par with evergreens like »A Whiter Shade of Pale,« »A Salty Dog«, »Conquistador« or »Homburg«, but it’s still a thoroughly consistent effort. This year the elder statesmen of prog are heading out on an ambitious European tour again, which, as expected, will steer well clear of our neck of the woods. But if you don’t want to miss one of the last chances to see Procol Harum live, get ready for a long trip to Stuttgart in Germany or Verona in Italy, the two cities on the tour that are closest to us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdgpvcEiZzw
Lineup
Gary Brooker – vocals, piano
Matt Pegg – bass guitar, backing vocals
Geoff Dunn – drums
Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals
Josh Phillips – keyboards, backing vocals
Pete Brown – lyrics
Production
Dennis Weinreich
Tracklist
1. I Told on You
2. Last Chance Motel
3. Image of the Beast
4. Soldier
5. Don’t Get Caught
6. Neighbour
7. Sunday Morning
8. Business Man
9. Can’t Say That
10. I Am the Only One
11. Somewhen
