PAWN HEARTS

I found this band primarily through this website, so I put a note to give them a listen. One day, while simply browsing through a store, I actually found a used (but nearly new) copy that was pretty cheap, so I bought it. After first listen, I wasn't entirely impressed, but I persisted. This album eventually became a near masterpiece for me; each track grew vivider and had more of an impact with every listen. Soon, the imagery through Peter Hammill's wonderful vocals and arrangements came to life, so to speak. Of course, my revelation with this album stems from the epic A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers. Although it receives criticism for lack of direction and length, I find it's rather perfect. The saxophone, which by far is not my favorite instrument, adds new layers to the depth and creates wonderful harmonies. Peter Hammill provides a heartfelt performance, taking on the persona of any character or role or whatever he is trying to bring to life. The other two tracks are fantastic as well, and I soon realized this after "discovering" A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers. While they don't reach the same heights, they manage to be worthy additions to this excellent album. All in all, this is my first, and most definitely not last, album from VdGG.