The least we can do is decide on Peter Hammill's best album
Posted by: Guido Fawkes on 11 September 2011
Peter Hammill has released a phenomenal number of elpees both as solo artist and as the main man in Van Der Graaf Generator. At various times during the past few weeks I have been working my way through Peter's solo output from Fool's Mate towards Thin Air - sadly I don't have his opera "The Fall of the House of Usher".
So what do you think of his contribution to contemporary: stunning, irrelevant, tedious, masterful, indifference or admiration for the sheer brilliance of the man?
And what records of his do you like most?
And why haven't Van Der Graaf Generator had a BBC rockumentary yet?
There was a really good doco on about VDGG, it included Whimshurst machines and all sorts.
Damn I missed that ... that's the trouble with such things they never stay static long enough.
My father's child hood sweat heart was the mother of SP.Peters love for many years.
My old man wouldnt move to the us.
They are still good friends and speak every week though.
Stu
I like the albums with the K Group the best. Live, they were really good.
For me, it's "Chameleon" but with the players involved it is more of a VDGG album really.
...well, I guess you have to admire someone who is so prolific and believes so much in what they do.
Saw VDGG on the Godbluff tour in '75/'76 at Liverpool Stadium. When we arrived Hugh Banton's organ wasn't working and the technicians had it laid out in bits on the stage whilst Hammill sound-checked swigging whisky straight from the bottle. Great gig from what I can remember.
Also enjoyed a duo of Hammill and Jackson at ICA London circa 1981. Hammill very exposed and intense, Jackson on form with lovely filigree sax effects. Shame Jackson has left the current line up, although from all accounts the band are sounding great.
Recorded highlight for me is second side of In Camera; first rate music concrete worthy of anyone working in the genre. Got me into other things such as Pierre Henri etc. Also have a soft spot for Still Life (VDGG) - lots of nice sax work, some great tunes, but I still haven't a clue what they are singing about half the time. (Gerard Manley Hopkins RIP).
I really like enter k.
His mid 70's run of albums Chameleon, Silent Corner, In Camera, Nadir's Big Chance and Over are my favourite period PH.
He interrupted this run with some fine lps with VdGG too (Pawn Hearts, Godbluff and Still Life!)
I have 'Usher' - it is rather strange I have to be in the mood to listen to it.
Not sure he hits those heights any more but I'm glad he's still going.
VdGG are still excellent live - I've seen the trio line up three times and was at the re-union at the RFH in 2005.
I was sorely tempted to go to the recording of the recent DVD last December but decided against - I'm not sure I'd have made it there in the snow. It's a fine record of current VdGG live.
> His mid 70's run of albums Chameleon, Silent Corner, In Camera, Nadir's Big Chance and Over are my favourite period PH.
These are very fine albums indeed
How did he keep coming up with so many fresh ideas?
Never once does he seem to say - well that worked well, I'll make another album like that; he is always trying something different.
VDGG are quite simply my favourite band, Hammill is my favourite vocalist and lyricist, and I like a lot of his solo releases too. I do like a wide spread of music, but Hammill forms a major part of music listening.
Definitely the trilogy of 'Chameleon', 'Silent Corner' and 'In Camera' are my favourite of his solo albums.
'The Peel Sessions' is a real gem, provided you hit stop before the 80s drum machines start on the last three tracks.
I do try the late 70s albums from time to time, but always find the arrangements and production unlistenable, pity as there are many fantastic songs. I do keep trying these studio albums though from time to time.
After the mid 70's it is mostly live albums and bootlegs I listen to as I much prefer the simpler arrangements of his songs, with him and Stuart Gordon live, or in radio studios. 'Room Temperature' and 'Typical' are very good.
'Clutch' is my favourite of his post 70's recordings.
He is always excellent live, and perhaps I enjoy his music in that setting most. He is such a nice person on stage too. Probably seen him live over a dozen times, all since the early 80's.
As for VDGG, 'Pawn Hearts' is my favourite, but them if I had to pick one favourite album it would be that. I like all the 70's albums, and VDG 'Quiet Zone'. I have only seen them live since the reunion, about seven times, again, fantastic live.
Back to forum hibernation....
Of the recent stuff, Incoherence has kept me coming back the longest, I also have a soft spot for Roaring Forties, particularly Gift of Fire. I have the remix of Usher and listened avidly to it for ages but I think I've worn it out.
From the vinyl era, Still Life (the first VDGG I bought) and In Camera, but everything really.
Tides and the Kronos Quartet disk are the only boots I've heard and are both keepers.
All of it's worth having though, with the exception of the Classic Rock Productions stuff and The Long Hello 3 (one Hammil song, The Homing of Homer, with Jaxon proving how mundane he is on his own on the rest of the record).