PROCOL HARUM – Missing Persons EP

Esoteric Antenna label is pleased to announce the release of a new CD EP by the legendary PROCOL HARUM to be released 7 May 2021

Procol Harum: Missing Persons (Alive Forever) EP - Cherry Red Records

Legendary British progressive rock band Procol Harum have a new 3 track EP coming. The band lead by founding member – and one of Britain’s recognizable voices – Gary Brooker, and also includes longtime guitarist Geoff Whitehorn (ex Crawler) . “Missing Persons” is a song that was in the band’s live set some years ago, but strangely never made it to the band’s 2017 album Novum; I say ‘strangely’ because it’s a fantastic song! The slow organ intro, before Brooker’s unmistakable voice comes in with piano, followed by the band. It’s a classic PH ballad, that leaves space for Brooker to deliver lyrics that many will relate to today, it’s a moving song about loss. It rocks a good bit in places, with Geoff Whitehorn delivering a couple of fine solos, especially as the song picks up pace as it comes to a close. The other new song here is “War Is Not Healthy”. It reminds me of a ’60s protest song, pretty funky, great chorus, and some cool slide guitar and organ throughout this one. The EP ends with a radio edit of “Missing Persons” (heck – I wish radio played stuff like this!) Here’s hoping there’s a full album in the not-so-distant future.

Missing Persons (Alive Forever) was completed during lockdown, after founder and lead singer Gary Brooker rediscovered a CD of rough mixes of two studio tracks the band had laid down during a previous session. “They weren’t written last week, neither are they old” says Gary, but the precise date of the original recordings remain a mystery. With the world locked down Gary and the band revisited these tracks and they now proudly sit alongside the band’s venerable catalogue.

The title track Missing Persons (Alive Forever) is a particularly poignant and emotive song, and a fine example of the musical tradition of Procol Harum. Gary adds: “Keith Reid’s lyrics sound incredibly apt for the time we’re living in, this is the sound of Procol Harum today.” The EP’s other new song War Is Not Healthy is also a touching observation of war and its impact on humanity.

This is Procol Harum at their timeless best.