ROGER ENO & PETER HAMMILL: THE APPOINTED HOUR

As the booklet indicates, this album is really an improvisation of the two participants that had been speaking for years to collaborate. So they did their things apart and super- imposed them. And as strange as it might appear, it actually sounds fairly good, but in all likelihood, there must've been a fair share of editing too.

While I confused Roger with his brother Brain at first, the resulting album is much the same as if it was Brian playing on it. While Hammill's participation is rather important, it is rather out of character of what you could be expecting from him. Peter does not sing or throw heavy guitar chords and he is in a rather quiet (even subdued) mood and this of course leaves Eno lots of room for him to glide his ambiances and dive them through Hammill keys and strings arpeggios. The resulting album is more an ambient record than a new age record (there is a subtle difference) and it is in general correct listening, but really nothing essential; let's face it, the average proghead will probably not be spinning this slice more than once in a couple of year after the initial discovery, so it is not really worth the investment.

Beit from Brian or Roger, an album signed by Eno is never really my cup of tea and adding a cloud of Hammillk will not change anything for me. ;-)

The audiophiles who knew too much!

I am going to bore you a bit, about how this "The Appointed Hour", 1999, music experiment came upon. On a specific hour and date, Roger Eno in his "studio", miles away of Peter Hammill´s one, recorded unconnected from each other for an hour exactly and then stopped at the same "appointed hour". Then met afterwards to mix both impro/compositions... Mmh! All of this, promptly explained in its packaging. Also an emphasis that - no overdubs or time/syncs were used. That shows how happy they were with the actual results!

The progger's ratings are quiet average. And then again, the average young progger does not even consider this kind of music to be prog for starters!..., I mean, "modern classical piano music" with "impressionistic influences" + "ambient" and no "happy" moments, all hell broke loose!

Anyway! 20 unaltered songs came out of this "dadaistic" way of composing. Completely "instrumental", impro like, but similar in its "classic music" oriented, "ambiental" tone.

All tracks do behold an above average quality, some are shinier, some others more "impressionistic" and some move towards the "obscure", but really all catch your attention, beyond a purist prejudice of this way of songwriting.

As I listen, Satie's and Debussy's piano pieces come to mind, as a reference not a comparison. "No masterpiece but neither trash!", ***3.5 PA stars.