THE SILENT CORNER AND THE EMPTY STAGE

A beautiful, essential record I discovered in 1990 when I spent a few days in London. Ever since that day, I've been to probably more than 20 Hammill solo or band concerts (including VDGG in Germany last year)! Silent Corner is not very different from the best of VDGG's works. More personal in a way and quite diversified in terms of instrumentation. Whereas some songs come with a band arrangement others are simple and pure, where the intensity can shine even better... Modern and Louse are simply two of the best things he has ever written. Powerful, intimidating, engrossed. It's a great album to start with. Having heard Wyatt's Rock Bottom the other day, this could in fact be something like a twin.