When I tell people that Nick Harper is one of the most talented, creative and soulful performers that I’ve ever seen grace a stage you can safely bet that I’ll either get a blank expression of a knowing smile in return. That’s the kind of performer he is, a singer/guitarist/songwriter with the ability to come charging into your music collection and make your life a better place. As Alt Nation discovered last year upon reviewing a show of his in Greenock, he possesses the true star quality of being able to hold an audience spellbound in the palm of his hand and draw them in to make the concert an almost organic living breathing entity. At this point you’re probably reading my words and thinking “what a load of toss, he’s off his rocker” and to an extent I’d probably agree with you. The Harper phenomenon is something that makes sense to those that have experienced it, so the release of this DVD makes perfect sense: make a film that captures the essence of the artist as close as possible to try and explain a baffling musical phenomenon..
Instead of being a straightforward documentary or live concert release,
Love Is Music combines elements of both to give the viewer a wider understanding of this low profile musical genius. Filmmaker Mike Last shadows Nick on a recent solo UK tour and attempted to capture his performance, humour, influences and family roots that make him the performer that has earned him a dedicated fan base. In selecting which songs to feature the theme seems to be to give a mixed bag of the various aspects of Harper’s catalogue. Trying to find a song that typifies him is nigh impossible, yet they all fit effortlessly with one another in some impossible way. 13 tracks have been selected ranging from the civilised beauty of
The Kilty Stone to the trademark Harper guitar frenzy of
Karmageddon. In some ways the question the film poses is one of definition. Friends, colleagues and celebrity fans give their thoughts as to why they hold Nick Harper and his music in such high regard and it gives assurance to those who’ve previously struggled. He’s an exceptional guitar talent, a unique vocalist with incredible sense of melody, a protest singer, a punk and a comedian. The film is screwed together in such a way as to show each of these facets blending effortlessly into the other.
Nick Harper is something that any fan of music should experience live, there’s no doubt about that. Whether filmed in front of an audience or sitting at the bottom of his garden performing, he radiates the sort of presence that every musician aspires to. His quality shines through at every turn, and we are treated to a look at his personal life including a witty interview with his father (folk legend Roy Harper) which neatly serves to flesh out the ideas and themes his songs investigate. Interviews with many of his friends, colleagues and fans, such as Glen Tilbrook and Mike Read, reveal that his songs appeal to a fantastically large range of people for a variety of reasons. The common theme seems to be that people from different musical backgrounds are drawn to Harper’s music by the many strings he has to his performing bow as it were. There is a quality in the music that transcends style and fashion and makes him the rarer commodity of being a performer that finds it difficult
not to push your buttons in some way. A raw version of
Imaginary Friend sums it up for me as the film draws to a close. If you take away his humour and political wit, the virtuoso guitar playing and the commanding stage persona you're left with an artist with real power and worth to what he’s doing, For that alone, fans of true quality should either be checking this out or hotfooting it along to one if his blistering live shows.
Nick Harper- Love Is Music is out now on Sangraal
www.harperspace.com /
www.myspace.com/harperspace
