If you want rockin' Hammill, he rocks most on his early 80s albums Sitting Targets, Enter K, and Patience -- all great albums, the latter two have Guy Evans as full time drummer.
Guy's drumming is indeed sublime on this track, and it makes me even more convinced that Gog will utterly overwhelm you: this is the side A foretaste of that. Given that you respond so enthusiastically to the rockier Hammill, you really should listen to the rest of Nadir's Big Chance: so many wonderful, fun, delightfully inventive tracks, like a greatest hits collection of songs that were only hits in some parallel universe.
@nobrains6107 He's one of my top 3. I think a lot of rock band drummers would really struggle to do a proficient job for VDGG as the songs can be very tricky to say the least! The lack of recognition all the band members suffer, pains me.
Hey JP. I admire your attempt to divine meaning from Hammill songs. I've been a fan since '71 and have to admit there are times I have no idea what a particular song is about. To make matters worse, I read a long time ago that PH will use a word just for the sound of it rather than the meaning. Oh boy, that doesn't make things any easier!
Oh absolutely. This was a big pressure release track for me during my military service MANY fine years ago. A Sing-along, no less! They loved me in our dormitory.
I would add "Comet" before those final two. The end of "Comet" creates a mood to what follows. It should not be lost by pausing it. That end "IS" the album back cover. And there's nothing like it in all Hammill entire work.
Since you are running through Peter's tracks. How about reviewing his LIVE TV performance (Just him and a piano) of "The Forsaken Garden" No other video online shows so clearly his technique (and emotions) behind the performance. "Peter Hammill - Live in the studio 1974 - Swiss TV" ua-cam.com/video/IMxOdeNKdXQ/v-deo.html
Did you notice that vocal middle part? And what he is saying? Both "vont trés bien ensemble". It's Hammill being caught by madness. That part is a sonic specimen of him being crazy. (but there's more, just wait. And focused on the "I" too) (these are the highlights on this album. It's Hammill being purely Hammill) And now, JP, if you loved this rock side of him, you will (I know you will) go back the Chameleon album third track. It's called "Rock and role" 😊
Interestingly, this is pretty much the only song off this album that PH hasn't returned to and played live regularly, for all I know. I'm interested in anyone's theories about the reasons for this.
Interesting on how Justin has this as 'the best track on the album so far'. It's certainly the most conventional rock song this far (until the a cappella section at least) but is a bit of a letdown for me as I prefer the wild sonic explorations. Lyrics still as profound as ever though. Thumbs up for the post which implores you to put Gog and Magog together as a single track though. You wouldn't rip off a Band-aid in two stages would you? Best get it over with in one. (And I say this as someone who loves the tracks! They're in my PH solo top 20 out of, what? 3-400ish?)
I would add "the comet" before those two: a certain mood is created to what follows. The way I see it, the end of "comet" "is" the album back cover. There's nothing like it in all Hammill discography...
If you want rockin' Hammill, he rocks most on his early 80s albums Sitting Targets, Enter K, and Patience -- all great albums, the latter two have Guy Evans as full time drummer.
"Is that all there is to it," he asks, "no more conjecture or controversy?"
I haven't listened to this album in quite a few years so it's nice to hear it again with you
Always great to watch you dive in strange music.
Guy's drumming is indeed sublime on this track, and it makes me even more convinced that Gog will utterly overwhelm you: this is the side A foretaste of that. Given that you respond so enthusiastically to the rockier Hammill, you really should listen to the rest of Nadir's Big Chance: so many wonderful, fun, delightfully inventive tracks, like a greatest hits collection of songs that were only hits in some parallel universe.
I love Fools Mate also!
The 'musician x is underrated' trope is hugely overused, but for Guy Evans I think it's very true.
@nobrains6107 He's one of my top 3. I think a lot of rock band drummers would really struggle to do a proficient job for VDGG as the songs can be very tricky to say the least! The lack of recognition all the band members suffer, pains me.
Hey JP. I admire your attempt to divine meaning from Hammill songs. I've been a fan since '71 and have to admit there are times I have no idea what a particular song is about. To make matters worse, I read a long time ago that PH will use a word just for the sound of it rather than the meaning. Oh boy, that doesn't make things any easier!
Oh absolutely. This was a big pressure release track for me during my military service MANY fine years ago. A Sing-along, no less! They loved me in our dormitory.
It's funny how much the guitar on this sounds at times like it’s playing a David Jackson sax part. I wonder if VDGG ever performed this song.
The answer is no, and neither has Hammill.
Very insightful hit on it - the guitar does remind of Jackson, or at least very much fill the same space.
Your reaction to Gog/Magog is going to be interesting. These should be treated as a single track btw.
I would add "Comet" before those final two. The end of "Comet" creates a mood to what follows. It should not be lost by pausing it.
That end "IS" the album back cover. And there's nothing like it in all Hammill entire work.
@@Eduardo-Ferreira1982 Let´s make it the whole section: Faint-heart-Comet-Gog
@@MrTrollerboy yeah, is JP willing to try it?
Excellent precursor to Nadir's Last Chance.
Since you are running through Peter's tracks.
How about reviewing his LIVE TV performance (Just him and a piano) of "The Forsaken Garden"
No other video online shows so clearly his technique (and emotions) behind the performance.
"Peter Hammill - Live in the studio 1974 - Swiss TV"
ua-cam.com/video/IMxOdeNKdXQ/v-deo.html
They're just incredible!
Did you notice that vocal middle part? And what he is saying? Both "vont trés bien ensemble". It's Hammill being caught by madness. That part is a sonic specimen of him being crazy. (but there's more, just wait. And focused on the "I" too) (these are the highlights on this album. It's Hammill being purely Hammill)
And now, JP, if you loved this rock side of him, you will (I know you will) go back the Chameleon album third track. It's called "Rock and role" 😊
Interestingly, this is pretty much the only song off this album that PH hasn't returned to and played live regularly, for all I know. I'm interested in anyone's theories about the reasons for this.
As usual, your take on the song is worth listening to.
Interesting on how Justin has this as 'the best track on the album so far'. It's certainly the most conventional rock song this far (until the a cappella section at least) but is a bit of a letdown for me as I prefer the wild sonic explorations. Lyrics still as profound as ever though. Thumbs up for the post which implores you to put Gog and Magog together as a single track though. You wouldn't rip off a Band-aid in two stages would you? Best get it over with in one. (And I say this as someone who loves the tracks! They're in my PH solo top 20 out of, what? 3-400ish?)
I would add "the comet" before those two: a certain mood is created to what follows. The way I see it, the end of "comet" "is" the album back cover. There's nothing like it in all Hammill discography...
The music and the funny turns in between remind me strongly of Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come.
Watch out! Peter Hammill is singing about a Tapeworm. 🪱 🐛 🪱 🐛