| Man & Myth | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 September 2013 | |||
| Recorded | Ireland, USA, UK | |||
| Genre | Folk,folk baroque,indie folk | |||
| Length | 51.28 | |||
| Label | Bella Union | |||
| Producer | Roy Harper with additional production byJonathan Wilson and John Fitzgerald | |||
| Roy Harper chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 85/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| The Observer | [3] |
| The Guardian | [4] |
| Record Collector | [5] |
| Daily Express | [6] |
| The Australian | [7] |
| Financial Times | [8] |
| Uncut |  [9] |
| musicOMH | [10] |
| Pitchfork Media | [11] |
Man & Myth is the title ofRoy Harper's 22nd studio album. Released 47 years after his debut album,Sophisticated Beggar, it is his first studio release in 13 years.
When questioned during aReuters interview about the time span between his album releases, Harper explained: "I thought I had retired...I was in one world, but the next world had found me, so I had to respond to it. That meant gathering my wits and going forward with a new record."[12]"I've written poetry, prose, essays and articles and gone through the motions of being Roy, but I didn’t have the will to make another album until recently..." said Harper. "...I was inspired to write again around 2009, by many of the younger generation finding me and asking, who are you?".[13]
Of the seven tracks, four were recorded withJonathan Wilson at his Fivestar Studios inEcho Park. "Heaven Is Here", "The Exile", and "January Man" were recorded inCounty Cork.[14]Pete Townshend plays lead guitar on "Cloud Cuckooland".
On 18 July 2013Mojo magazine's website featured the track "Time is Temporary" as their Track of the Day.[15]
""Time is Temporary" is the sound of a man who is capable of contemplating his mortality as well as musing on coincidence, convergence and circumstance" said Harper. The track is "based on a thought... that maybe I will pass you in the street, or in a train, or a restaurant, and we'll look at each other and have the same sort of feelings, but never take it any further, never take the next step that both of us seemed to want to, so we'll never know what might have been".[16]
In the run up to the album's release, Harper was interviewed by Laura Rawlings on herBBC Radio Bristol show on 15 August 2013. The interview closed with the track "Desert Island", from Harper's 1988 releaseDescendants of Smith, being played.
On the album's release date, 23 September 2013, Harper played an in-store performance atRough Trade East, London. A limited number of tickets were available to those who purchased the album in store that day, and the event was also streamed live to 1000 viewers who had pre-ordered the album and been given a pass.[17]
The album received favourable reviews from many critics and journalists alike. Molloy Woodcraft, writing forThe Observer, called the album "an absolute corker" and "a great record".[3] Reviewing for the Music website,Drowned in Sound, Matthew Slaughter stated "...it’s a record of reflection, of experimentation, sometimes of egotism, often of near-mystical sadness".[18] "Restless, melodic and endlessly absorbing, Man & Myth is the sound of an artist at the peak of his power" was the conclusion by Martin Townsend in his review for theDaily Express.[6] Steve Creedy reviewing forThe Australian stated the album "compares well with illustrious predecessors such asStormcock andHQ" and that it was "a welcome addition to a remarkable career".[7] TheFinancial Times reviewer, Ludovic Hunter-Tilney awarded the album four out of five stars and said "acoustic guitar melodies meander along gracefully, building into moments of great agitation; raw emotional honesty coexists with mythmaking lyrics romanticising Harper as the eternal outsider".[8] Writing forGoldmine,Dave Thompson proclaimedMan and Myth to be "a genuine triumph, a magnificent achievement...this isn’t a 'return to form'. It’s business as brilliant [as] usual.[19]Allmusic reviewer Thom Jurek praised Harper's writing for remaining "keen and opulent" and stated that his "loopyphrasing and lyrics lie in their own country" existing "outside of the usual singer-songwriter tropes". Hismelismatic phrasing is as musical as the gorgeous strings, guitars, drums, andmellotrons in the sonic architecture framing his voice.Man and Myth is Harper at his best, fully in command of his vision, his curious, lovely melodic sensibility, and, of course, his poetry".[2]
In November 2013,Mojo placedMan and Myth at 39 in their list of the top 50 Albums of 2013. The song, "January Man" was mentioned as the stand out track, and was included on their 'Best of 2013'Covermount CD.[20]Uncut placedMan & Myth at 6 in their top 50 Albums of 2013. A track from the album was also placed on their 'Sound of 2013' Covermount CD, January 2014 issue.[21]
In support of the album's release Harper undertook a short, three date, UK tour, performing at theRoyal Festival Hall, London, (22 October), theBridgewater Hall, Manchester (25 October) and theColston Hall, Bristol (27 October). At each performance he was accompanied by Jonathan Wilson (following Wilson's opening acoustic set) and supported by astring andbrass ensemble performing arrangements byFiona Brice.
The album is available in three formats. CD, alimited edition, doublegatefold, three sided, heavyweight (180g) vinyl LP with etching on the fourth side (Compact disc included), and as anMP3 orFLAC download from Harper's website.
All tracks credited to Roy Harper
