OVER

Over is another unique album in the Hammill catalogue. It's Hammill at his most solemn, heartfelt and intimate. The songs are very direct, stripped of all abundances. The arrangements are cut down to acoustic guitars, muffled drums, bass and bits of violin here and there. Almost as if they are performed right next to you in your living room. Crying Wolf is built around a catchy guitar hook, a rare beast in Hammill's world. It's a clear warning that this album won't revolve around complex song structures and thickly layered instrumentation like you get in your usual Hammill / VDGG deal. The songs are bare and blunt and provide no distraction whatsoever from their bleak message that is all about personal pain, loss and betrayal. Time Heals and the mainly acoustic tracks Alice and Yoga grip me the most. Be warned. It's not an easy listen and has nothing to do with progressive rock whatsoever. It's an album that I overlooked, misjudged and neglected for many, many years. 3.5 stars