SONIX

I've been listening to Peter Hammill's compositions for some 30 years now. I've always found them to be fascinating and extremely well made. Sonix is a very interesting mainly instrumental work. Thank you, Peter, for sharing with us your unwavering love for your music. Thank you for continuing to create new and challenging compositions for all of us to enjoy and please more.....

This album is quite a weird experience.

A minimalist effort of the great man. And I have to say that it is rather difficult to listen to it in one session only. It is absolutely in line with "Loops & Reels" which couldn't really move me (to say the least).

This album is a collection of some experimental music recorded by Peter in the last couple of years (at the time of release). If you have read some of my reviews, you know already that this type of work doesn't speak to me. Being Hammill (for whom I have the greatest respect since I appreciate his work since 1973 with the Graaf) or anyone else.

So, basically, this "album" is a long and dull journey into some musical experience which is mostly unbearable: "Dark Matter" being one of the climax (!). But it's not a solitary item. There are plenty of these intellectual masturbation moments here. You name them.

I guess that several Hammill fans were reluctant to review this album and preferred to remain silent about it. I decided to share my opinion and it is quite abrupt: it is extremely boring all the way through, the experience lasting for almost sixty minutes!

IMHHO, there is not a single track which is worth a penny, this is pure "avant-garde" and minimalist stuff. Actually, the epic of this album (lasting for over twenty-six minutes) is just a little more listenable. Fine piano to start, but after five minutes or so, it is just so repetitive, emotionless...One of the very few passionate passages is the one during which Peter deigned to sing. Five minutes or so amongst these twenty-six from Labyrinthine Dreams.

Only one rating is possible for this almost instrumental album which is the last straw for such a great lyricist. Unfortunately: one star only.