Without public feedback to register, without promotional tours to organize, nor interviews to give, Barclay James Harvest can peacefully dedicate themselves to what they do best: making music. It's about refining the sound, overcoming the uncertainties and naiveties of the debut album, and giving their style greater consistency. These goals were achieved with the beautiful "Once Again," from 1971, recorded at Abbey Road Studios; an album more mature, complete, and engaging than the previous one, containing some of the group's great classics and a handful of tracks with a strong impact.

In this work, the importance of the orchestra seems to take a step down, but perhaps this impression only arises because the symphonic arrangements, still curated by Robert Godfrey, have become more coherent, discreet, and effective, giving rise to a fusion rarely found elsewhere with as much effectiveness. The compositional growth is already noticeable at the opening with "She Said", a great BJH classic; a deep stride, magnificent mellotron background, lyrical voice, and epic drumming—a beautiful piece with symphonic tones and the now familiar, acidic Lees guitar chiseling the chorus with unforgettable phrases. Enveloping and ethereal, the mellotron solo in the central part creates a climate of evocative suspension, only to lead toward a finale where Lees' psychedelic rock triumphs. The second piece, "Happy Old World" is more relaxed, an interesting track with powerful and vaguely apocalyptic tones, supported by organ and piano and with a plaintive singing; the beautifully faded ending, dominated by an almost bluesy piano, stands out.

The following "Song For The Dying" is a real forgotten gem, with the piano introducing a melancholic poetry full of lyricism and pathos. The track gives its best in the wonderful chorus: heroic, sublime, dominated by Lees' intense guitar delivering distorted notes; without orchestra nor too many frills, BJH offers one of their most measured and at the same time epic performances, with a delicate instrumental coda lulled by the bass and a poignant mellotron; also noteworthy is the touching text, dedicated to the fallen in war. The excellent "Galadriel" is instead a pastoral ballad of Tolkien-inspired inspiration, whose simple and fairy-like tones are consolidated by a discreet orchestral accompaniment. Splendid are the guitar arpeggio and the voice for one of the most successful "soft" BJH pieces.

It’s time for what might be the most famous song of the group, the solid and elegant "Mockingbird", epitome of their artistic quest and their blend of rock and symphony. It starts with guitar and mellotron and with lyrics that immediately imprint in the mind for their evocative simplicity, continues with magnificent orchestral interventions and choirs, perfectly fused in the central structure, and concludes with a rhythmic and orchestral crescendo hard to forget, and with the fabulous strident guitar highlighting the dramatic ending. As already happened in the previous album, the placid folk of "Vanessa Simmons" arrives to lighten the tones, a restful and pleasant ballad. But the tender moment ends immediately, as "Ball And Chains" is an atypical, intense, syncopated, and robust track; an electric blues sung with filtered and forced voice built on nervous and incisive guitar riffs and on a powerful rhythm of the excellent Mel Pritchard. There is also a spectacular solo of two overdubbed guitars and the usual, exceptional performance by Lees. Something far from the usual BJH standards, showcasing a flexibility and inventiveness that over time will be somewhat set aside to seek more easily appealing solutions. The ending is a bit subdued with "Lady Loves", another ballad, this time with even more relaxed tones and a country flavor but with few memorable moments.

With this album, BJH proves not only to be virtuous and refined composers and performers but also demonstrate the assiduous sound research that characterizes them and that makes them a niche band but one worthy of absolute respect and perhaps of rediscovery; having moved past the symphonic intoxication of their debut album, "Once Again" displays a new and engaging measure and freshness. A fine example of lyrical and poetic rock, which, if it doesn't contain triumphs like "Dark Now My Sky", presents a balance between tracks that is far more solid. Enjoying a bit of refined and genuine romanticism from time to time is a pleasure that is priceless.

Tracklist

01   She Said (08:21)

02   Happy Old World (04:41)

03   Song for Dying (05:02)

04   Galadriel (03:13)

05   Mocking Bird (06:39)

06   Vanessa Simmons (03:46)

07   Ball and Chain (04:49)

08   Lady Loves (03:56)

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