HARPER

Stand Together

Blind Pig Records

By Linda Cain 

“Refreshing” is the word that comes to mind when hearing Harper’s music for the first time. Harper is an artist whose music crosses continents and knows no boundaries. With his long, windswept hair, hippie garb and giant didgeridoo (that’s an instrument; get your mind out of the gutter), Harper resembles a modern day shaman, rather than a typical blues man. In fact, there is nothing typical about this ex-Australian Brit, who is now an American citizen of the great Midwest.

 Harper’s unique, original style skillfully blends blazing blues harp with ‘70s style funk/soul grooves, accented with pulsating aboriginal vibrations and chant-style choruses.  His jammin’ five-piece road band, Midwest Kind (based in Ann Arbor, Michigan), brings the magic of their exhilarating live performances to the studio on Stand Together, Harper’s third CD for Blind Pig which he produced.

 Lyrically, Harper is as sincerely socially conscious as U2, tackling heavy subjects such as the environment, indigenous people, and the homeless. Harper steadfastly avoids the “my woman done me wrong” realm of songwriting and all 12 songs are originals. He possesses a smooth, clear, expressive voice, which he uses to deliver the song’s message in a straightforward style. Harper doesn’t engage in wailing, growling or over-the-top vocal pyrotechnics; that he saves for his remarkable harp solos!

Born Peter D. Harper in Great Britain, the Harper family moved to Australia when he was only ten. There he learned to play harmonica while listening to records by Chicago blues legends Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller) and other artists. As a teen, Harper and his family had positive encounters with native Aborigines in the outback and the city. As an adult he learned as much as he could about their history, culture and music. Harper eventually learned to play the didgeridoo, a huge wind instrument which is quite difficult to master. He artfully employs the unusual, haunting sounds of the didge -- which can mimic everything from from a flock of geese to a jet engine to a tanpura (an Indian drone instrument that accompanies the sitar) – to enhance his current musical vision.

The title track, “Stand Together”, with its pounding drums, thundering bass and droning, trance-like didge, is clearly sung from the point of view of the Aborigine and is reminiscent of songs by Midnight Oil, which covered the same topic. “I can’t believe you don’t understand/ we’re all united with the dust and sand,” Harper sings in the tribal third person. 

The opening track, “I Never Want,” is dominated by didgeridoo drones and thumping bass drums that echo the primal past. Harper’s bouncy harmonica riffs accent the pleasant song about a satisfied man who enjoys the simple things in life, like a sunset.

Harper strays from the outback and takes us to church on the uncomplicated, but outstanding song “Take These Arms,” with its uplifting gospel-influenced piano and heartfelt message of true friendship. This song displays his voice’s soaring range and emotional impact more than any other tune on the CD.  The only thing missing is a gospel choir to harmonize with Harper. Now here’s a song that fans of the Holmes Brothers would enjoy.

            “Love=Peace=Freedom” is set to a hip shakin’ groove, along the lines of Sly and the Family Stone or War. Get out the love beads, peace signs and wear flowers in your hair as Harper takes you to the love-in. “Love, love, love, love, love/ equals peace equals freedom.”  Right on, brother.

Not all of the shaman’s songs are about feel-good groovy musical topics. Yet, no matter how barbed Harper’s lyrics may be, his accompanying music is designed to take the listener to a better place, perhaps to offer an enjoyable escape from a crazy world.

A case in point is “Weaker Man” which addresses a person that succumbs to dangerous habits. The song builds musically to an accelerated pace as the band whips up a Blues Traveler style jam, with Harper blowing the reeds off his harp like a whirling Tasmanian Devil.  Don’t try this at home.

Similarly, “No Problem,” is a put-down of those who are socially un-conscious and features more, note-filled, John Popper-like harp solos and some bluesy band jammin’.

“Chill Out” is a kiss-off song, perhaps directed at an ex-friend, colleague or lover. “You never did mean that much to me…I can’t stand being beside you,” he sings in a cool, detached tone, as a bluesy guitar reveals the song’s stinging sentiments. Ouch!

“Not My Brother” starts out with a tasty Lee Oskar (of War) style harp solo. The song is a conversation between the haves and the have-nots of society, who clearly don’t understand each other.  Harper’s soulful, emotive, harp playing is upfront while the band hangs back, creating a moody, atmospheric backdrop for this social commentary.

Harper is a complex, multi-faceted artist who takes chances. Call it world music, blues-rock, jam band, ‘70s retro or whatever. There is no clear label to stamp on Stand Together. His music won’t appeal to blues purists and the sound of the didgeridoo can be a tad jarring (he doesn’t use it on all the songs). But if you are open-minded and want to get down and groove with a harmonica wizard and his funky Michigan bandmates, then Harper’s Stand Together will stand and deliver.

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