Ben Harper
Live From Mars

A MARTIAN CONCERT IN THE ERA OF POP-MUSIC

In 2001, Ben Harper's first non-studio album was released, a live recording titled "Live From Mars". The 25 tracks were divided into two discs: the first electric, the second acoustic. (A musical division he would also employ in the subsequent double studio album "Both Sides Of The Gun" 2006).

Ben Harper's music live is an authentic force of nature, an absolutely fascinating and engaging spectacle. The interpretation that the Californian bluesman gives to his songs in concerts is breathtaking, leaving one speechless. He doesn't merely sing or play the notes of his songs, he lives them! The first disc (electric) opens with the beautiful version of "Glory & Consequence", composed in 1997 from the album "The Will To Live". A very reflective and dramatic piece on the ruins and disasters left by man in his ongoing quest for success: glory has its consequences, and those who obtain it rarely leave their path behind them without tears and blood, says the wise and staunch pacifist Ben, with clear references to war. It continues with the stunning and moving "Excuse Me Mr", one of the most successful tracks, taken from the 1995 album "Fight For Your Mind".

One of the most transformed and engaging pieces of the concert is the version of "Woman In You" (from "Burn To Shine" 1999): shouted and rocked to the extreme, it explodes with incredible anger, leading Ben and his slide guitar into paths he had rarely ventured before. "Alone", also from "Burn To Shine", is marked by Ben's warm voice that becomes increasingly wailing and plaintive by the end, becoming extremely harrowing (even more than in the studio version). In the introduction of "Ground On Down" (from "Fight For Your Mind"), Harper winks at Hendrix (a predecessor of some of his compositional influences), diving into electrifying guitar riffs and 'shreds' that send shivers down the spine! To not offend any of his most illustrious and deceased 'Inspirational Masters', there is a beautiful tribute to Bob Marley (and particularly to the Rastafari creed), in the splendid version of "Burn One Down" (again from "Fight For Your Mind"): among magical and highly rhythmic percussion, Ben's riffs and voice serenade us with an authentic open-hearted anthem to friendship and smoking... from this... 'Let's smoke one down (literally 'burn one down') from one end to the other and pass it to me too, my friend. Smoke it long, let's smoke it slowly, so that it gladdens me before my departure. If you don't like my 'fire', don't come, because I'm here to smoke one. The herb is a gift from the earth and what comes from the earth is a product of Jah (the God of the Rastafari). And so before you refuse it, try it, and you'll see it's a blessing and not a harm'.

And to please those who love the extreme multiculturalism of his music, we see Ben reaching out to the new currents of 'Black Music' of the recent decades, with the 'rappy' introduction that opens the doors to the notes of the fun "Still My Kisses" (from "Burn To Shine", which at the time was his most recent studio album). Indispensable is "Mama's Got A Girlfriend", where the legendary Weissenborn of the guitarist goes wild. Two covers are also present: "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin and "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye. This last piece caused him some problems during his collaboration with the very religious (and puritanical) 'Blind Boys Of Alabama' who didn’t look kindly upon anyone interpreting lyrics explicitly referring to sex.

In the second disc, emotions are released in the guitar and voice ballads of the artist. One above all is the opening track: "Waiting On An Angel" (from "Welcome To The Cruel World") an angelic and dreamlike piece, notes of a sweet and magical slowness. Harper has long stated that he was inspired to compose this piece by Hendrix appearing to him in a dream. (What can I say? Probably Ben had indulged quite a bit that night! But I leave each person to their own interpretation of the anecdote...). The gentle and soft atmosphere continues, but not without a strong and often very anguished interpretative imprint in the beautiful: "Roses From My Friends" (from "The Will To Live"), "Power Of The Gospel" (from "Fight For Your Mind") and especially "Please Bleed" (from "Burn To Shine") where Ben is almost in tears in some verses. Also in the second disc is a cover, the very successful rendition of "The Drugs Don't Work" by The Verve. The second disc also contains a track not included in any of the artist’s previous 4 albums: the slow ballad "Not Fire, Not Ice". The work concludes with two pieces in the deepest spirit of black tradition: "Like A King" and the enchanting "I'll Rise", my favorite track (both from "Welcome To The Cruel World"). There couldn’t have been a better ending.

An impeccable album, there isn't a flaw, there isn't a poorly executed track. Also noteworthy is the splendid performance of the legendary 'Innocent Criminals'. Despite the number of tracks, you cannot summarize the best of Ben Harper in this album; many splendid tracks were left out, yet a good part of the artist's early career is encapsulated in these two discs. Ben Harper gives a remarkable demonstration of interpretative skill live (for those who have not yet had the pleasure of hearing him live), a truly unmissable work for both Harper fans and those who do not yet know him. Moreover, it revives the tradition of black music, which always shone best in 'live' settings, and in these times, with the great pioneers who elevated this musical stream having vanished, if not for a Martian like Harper, there are no longer any earthly talents to be found.