CHAMELEON IN THE SHADOW OF THE NIGHT

One of the most unique and outstanding songwriters and singers in progressive rock, Peter Hammill, has recorded his second studio album in 1973. It was his first album in years after Pawn Hearts and before Godbluff, both considered to be two of VDGG's greatest achievements, and one could say that Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night was his first true studio album, where he really began to exploit his full potential.

Chameleon is a much more accomplished work than Peter's previous studio album, Fool's Mate. It contains eight great compositions that vary in style, and lyrics are much deeper, cleverer, filled existentialism and Hammill's classic genius.

The first piece, German Overalls, is quite experimental, expressing band members' apathy after VDGG broke apart for the first time. Slender Threads is a very touching, intelligent acoustic balade, and Rock and Role a very good, complex hard rock piece of music where Hammill plays electric guitar. In the End is a heart-breaking and dramatic song, where Hammill is alone with his piano and produces one of his best vocal performances ever. What's it Worth is another beautiful acoustic balade with great lyrics and vocals. Easy to Slip Away goes back to the spirit of In the End as it is another dramatic and almost tragic piece of music about long-lost childhood's friendship. Dropping the Torch is perhaps the most tender and naive song of the entire album, but beautifully manages to calm the listener and prepares him for the final act. That is without a doubt the best song on the album, (In the) Black Room/The Tower, a classic VDGG-like masterpiece (no wonder as all VDGG members perform on this piece). It is very dark, variable, with Hammill's lyrics and vocals and their absolute peak. It is one of the pinnacles of Hammill's genius.

Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night may not be Peter Hammill's best solo album ever, as some of his latter works are even more accomplished, but it is Thin Man's first solo masterpiece and therefore a must-listen for anyone who appreciates the music Van der Graaf Generator and/or Peter Hammill's solo works.