Harlequin Mass — Harlequin Mass 1978 (USA, Art-Progressive Rock)
A band from Portland, Oregon, and their only album, released in late 1978, broke up a year later after an unsuccessful attempt to relocate to Seattle and changing their name to Stubborn Puppet. It is always a pleasure to discover a band from the 1970s that received absolutely zero chance first time around. If the band was American, and did not play with the typical in your face style of its countrymen, so much the better. Harlequin Mass leans more towards the British school of symphonic rock, while incorporating folk elements into their best material. The folk basis is important, because it is generally sufficient to rein in the doodling on most of the longer pieces, the overly long and unfocused "Sky Caller" being the most notable exception.
It is hard to pick points of reference, even with Nancy Deaver's voice naturally calling out "Renaissance", because while the band sounds a bit like an energized Renaissance meets Yes, Deaver does not sound like Annie at all, but actually more like the Wilsons of Canadian classic rockers Heart, with a lot less venom. For a terribly obscure reference, how about Pauline Filby of the British prog/folk group Narnia, although Harlequin Mass is definitely a far better ensemble. LikeTracks:
Harlequin Mass
01. Introit (A Mass For The Harlequin) - 0:00
02. Love & Death - 3:16
03. One Step Home - 10:52
04. Space Cats - 18:26
05. Loss Of A Friend - 19:30
06. A New Song - 23:20
07. Sky Caller - 27:41
Stubborn Puppet
08. My Place - 38:26
09. Meantime - 41:47
10. Fabulous Angel - 45:54
11. Jeopardy - 49:59
Personnel:
Tracks 01-07:
Nancy Kaye – lead vocals, backing vocals, bass synthesizer
Lyle Holdahl - bass & acoustic & electric guitars, strings, synthesizer, piano, organ, bass synthesizer, flute, percussion, lead vocals, backing vocals
Jeff Pike – lead electric guitar, classical & acoustic guitars, piano synthesizer, saxophone, clarinet, backing vocals
John Reagan - drums, percussion, backing vocals
+
Collin Headade – cello & special guitar (03)
Rob Metcalf — synthesizer programming & special effects
Mark Reagan – snare drum & 2nd hand cymbals (04)
Tracks 08-11:
Nancy Kaye – lead vocals, backing vocals
Lyle Holdahl — synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
Kevin Hay - lead guitar
Carl Bennett – bass guitar
Tom Dickens - drums
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