IN CAMERA

Peter Hammill's fourth solo album, In Camera, is a pretty big change from his previous album, The Silent Corner and The Empty Stage. Luckily, the change is a positive one. Peter has said that creating an album was an educational experience to him, which means Peter learned new things every release. In Camera features a richer production than its predecessors and because of that has a much warmer overall feel.

The album, just like VDGG's material and Peter's previous release, is a very experimental one. For example the loud synths on (No More) The Submarine sound very bombastic and threatening. The experimenting is more controlled than it was on the previous solo release though, and that makes this album easier to listen and perhaps more pleasant to listen. The album also knows many different styles of music. Peter takes us from the stunning and emotional "Faint-heart And the Sermon" to the heavy rocker "Tapeworm" and the guitar quartet "The Comet, The Course, the Tail". Many of these songs are very interesting and really good, some even surpassing some Van Der Graaf classics.

The big climax of the album, is the ominous suite "Gog Magog (In Bromine Chambers)". "Gog" starts with haunting harmonium and when Hammill's fierce vocals make their entry, it quickly becomes one of the most frightening and striking pieces of music I've ever heard. The lyrics also deserve to be mentioned. Hammill is a fantastic lyricist, and the lyrics of "Gog" are without a doubt among his best, mentioning a god that doesn't really care. After the stunning power of "Gog", the second part starts. "Magog (In Bromine Chambers)" is roughly said a soundscape of eery and experimental noises, basically a piece of musique concrete by Peter Hammill. It is very experimental and intense, and because of that interesting but not very easy to listen. "Magog" is outstanding in its own way, though many might not enjoy its heavy experimentation and focus on an atmosphere that the lyrics suggest.

In Camera contains some of Hammill's finest solo moments and some of the songs here really surpass VDGG's best material. The beauty and experimantalism is really balanced, which makes the album very pleasant, diverse, and never really uninteresting. In Camera is a masterpiece of progressive rock if you ask me. I would recommend it to anyone who likes Van Der Graaf Generator or Peter Hammill solo.