THE SILENT CORNER AND THE EMPTY STAGE

I came late to this album having struggled with some of Hammill's late 80's albums. For a real flavour of the best of Hammill it is to the early 70's period one must look, and this album represents the peak of that period. It is not a piece of easy listening but rewards the listener with repeated plays. So demanding is the music that it is probably best listened to alone, maybe in the car. For sure, your girlfriend is not likely to appreciate it the way you do...! That said there are some great moments of sensitivity with "Wilhelmina" which features some profound insights into how it feels to look into the eyes of your first baby.

"Hope is but a single strand: we pass it on and hope you'll understand...."

The album open and closes with two of the most powerful pieces Hammill has written with Modern and A Louse is Not a Home. If there is one album you need to listen to from this artisit, then this is the one. Worth of the coverted 5 stars as it represents not just the artists best but one of a kind, with no other comparable albums like it.