FOOL'S MATE

Strange things can happen. I am a Hammill / VdGG fan for about 25 years now, I have this partical album more than 2 years in my house, and it is only this week that I discovered it! When I bought it I gave it 1 listen, noticed that it wasn't like other Hammill albums I love, and put it aside. Last week I decided I should give it another, more serious chance, and started playing it, and this week the spark was there. Especially for 1 song, The Birds. This is a truly magnificent song. Fine melody, and the band is in optimal shape, all of them, drums, bass, piano, guitar. I just can't get enough of this song. Today I've played it at least 25 times, I don't think I ever did that with any other song. And it's great to sing along with it. Most Hammill songs are (way) too difficult for me to sing, but this one, I can do (I think...).

The album as a whole is OK, certainly not the best Hammill, but there are quite a few fine songs. But The Birds is one of the very best he ever made. I have to say that much of the credit goes to the band. Though Hammill can play guitar and piano himself, he couldn't have done it himself as on this track, where Fripp and Banton do these parts.

So who knows which other fine songs/albums I am still to discover? That's one of the nice things of Hammill, you're not quickly done with him. Though I know I have most of his best albums, there are still more that 10 albums I don't have, and some I have but haven't given a good try yet. The guy keeps me busy. I will just give it time.

The rating is difficult, I would say 3+, but The Birds is a solid 5+. Have to be honest, album as a whole is a 3.