IN CAMERA

Just a couple of months ago I decided to pick up an album of Peter Hammill, due, mainly, to great admiration I feel for Van Der Graaf Generator and for their original sinister and visionary music from songs as Necromancer up to Cat's Eye/Yellow Fever (Running), through Killer, Arrow, Sleepwalkers et cetera.

The first impression was not as good as I thought before maybe because of the second half of the immense closer, the "Magog (In Bromine Chambers)" section which contents only a sequence of sounds and noises "ex infernis"! Not exactly my cup of tea! Gog and Magog are ancient hebrew words, used by Ezekiel prophet initially to speak about the prince (Gog) of the folks of Magog and then, in the New Testament (Apocalipse 20,7), the servants of the Antichrist. Apostle John tells that, after a thousand of years of being imprisoned, Satan will be free and exit from the abyss to move war against God. Gog and Magog seem to be two nations on the earth that will be called by Satan on his side for the decisive fight. Great and original intuition by Hammill...what a pity that the musical transplant did not equally come out well!

The other tracks are moderately good, but the whole album appears to be very different from what I get used to hear from VdGG. "Ferret and Featherbird" is very interesting with a dreamy intro that made reminded me of what I felt listening to Refugees the first time! In the same softer vein is also "Again", a delicate and mellow acoustic gem as sad as usual...

"No More the Sub-Mariner" is the more "strange" track here, in my opinion, with those evident keyboards! Very dark and deep atmosphere. In a similar line "Faint- Heart and the Sermon", but with more theatrical development and structure.

"The Comet, the Course, the Tail" is the more varied and consistent song of In Camera, the best track of the album, in my opinion! Very inspired arrangements and vocals by Hammill, a classic!

In conclusion, not a masterpiece for sure, neither an album of easy listening also for prog lovers, but the demonstration of the uniqueness of this charismatic artist!

3.5 stars.