SKIN

I recall being delighted with Peter Hamill's signing with Enigma Records in the mid 1980's. In those years, there was a dearth of progressive artists on the US major labels. Rush was in the midst of their least progressive period, King Crimson had come and gone again, Yes was in their Rabin lineup...

EMI/Capitol records was the only label that appeared to be using prog artists as anything but loss leaders, bands to use as tax write-offs. EMI had Marillion, Ozric Tentacles, Jethro Tull, and Peter Hammill.

While this album doesn't rank up there with Hammill's best, it's not bad. I actuall prefer this one over the more introspective albums that followed on the label. I think Hammill needs side musicians to give his music a feeling of completeness. When he records with just himself playing guitar of keyboards, I find myself imagining the parts added by David Jackson and Hugh Banton on his earlier releases. Both players are here, along with others, most notably Guy Evans, who plays better drums than Hammill does, when he tries it.

The music here is simple but draws the listener in. Hammill's usual slightly angular way of arranging the instruments works well. Most of the lyrics are more in the romantic vein than I prefer from Hammill, but at least they are as personal, and as usual, sung like he means them. And he never goes into that screechy mode that can sometimes be off-putting.

My copy, the US Enigma LP, has You Hit Me Where I Live, which apparently was left off of some versions. That's too bad. I think it's the best track of the lot.

3.5 stars