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Peter Hammill - The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage CD (album) cover

THE SILENT CORNER AND THE EMPTY STAGE

Peter Hammill

 

Eclectic Prog

4.31 | 967 ratings

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Auslander
5 stars This is my first review and I decided that I would review an album that I found via this website. I was passingly familiar with VDGG but had not heard any of Peter Hammill's solo work. This album came to my attention through its high ranking in the Best Prog Albums of all time chart on this site. When reading other reviews I was mildly apprehensive about buying it, but chose to anyway on a whim. I feel some of the reviews do not do this album justice. They speak of edgy sounds and overwrought vocals but seemingly falter when describing the real accessibility of the melodies and singing. When I hear the vocals it sound like Bowie doing a Peter Gabriel impersonation. Lyrically, there is depth but it does remind me of the song structures of early Genesis, so even though it can seem apocalyptic in tone, there is always that element of song craft. Indeed, I even find myself humming the tune of "Modern" quite often. It is unusual to discover an album without a weak track. Even the bonus live tracks are of good quality, innovative saxophone work is another high point on many songs. The deceptively simple guitar playing is of great quality. Sometimes it isn't the amount of notes you play, but the notes in between that carry a song. Hammill seems to be inherently aware of this fact. Yes, it is complex. Yes, it is prog. But, in my ears, this is accessible. This is music that can transcend fashion and fads. It is timeless and a new essential in my collection of favourites. 5 stars.
Auslander | 5/5 |

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