Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - What about Peter Hammill Voice?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

What about Peter Hammill Voice?
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Barbu View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: October 09 2005
Location: infinity
Status: Offline
Points: 30850 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Barbu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: What about Peter Hammill Voice?
    Posted: April 29 2020 at 16:41
A wizard of the voice, research master extraordinaire.
Back to Top
Nogbad_The_Bad View Drop Down
Forum & Site Admin Group
Forum & Site Admin Group
Avatar
RIO/Avant/Zeuhl & Eclectic Team

Joined: March 16 2007
Location: Boston
Status: Offline
Points: 20848 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nogbad_The_Bad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 14:36
Lush

I like everything he's done on record, I did find him a bit overwrought live at NF in 12.
Ian

Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com

https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/
Back to Top
Dellinger View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: June 18 2009
Location: Mexico
Status: Offline
Points: 12732 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dellinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 14:12
Originally posted by dougmcauliffe dougmcauliffe wrote:

It is one of the most unique voices i've ever heard. The thing is, the dude can actually sing, but he moreso uses his voice as an instrument. He also was sort of doing those somewhat gutteral vocals far before they were expanded on in genres like death metal. Same can be said for the singer of Comus.


I was thinking how to answer this thread, yet your answer sums my thoughts perfectly.
Back to Top
richardh View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 28054 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 14:00
Well there is a reason why Scorched Earth gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. The guy is not pissing about.
Back to Top
BrufordFreak View Drop Down
Collaborator
Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: January 25 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Status: Offline
Points: 8192 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 10:30
An acquired taste that, unfortunately, I have had a great deal of difficulty acquiring.
Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
Back to Top
jiminyCrikett View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: March 05 2018
Location: USA
Status: Offline
Points: 39 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jiminyCrikett Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 08:10
Classic Peter Hammilll might be the best singer in prog even if an acquired taste..

That latest album he did with Isildur's Bane was just awful though. It was sad to hear him struggle.
Back to Top
moshkito View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 04 2007
Location: Grok City
Status: Online
Points: 17517 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote moshkito Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 07:45
Originally posted by someone_else someone_else wrote:

...
Back to topic: The ultimate example of an acquired taste. He is a great vocalist, though few might believe that at first hearing.

Hi,

My thoughts are that some of those folks have never heard anything except the school choir and some kind of lollipop music with cheap vocals that were enhanced with various utilities so you can't tell that the voice is not right, or perfect.

I find it strange that someone says that about a singer, or any "orator" at all ... because it is all about their delivery and ability to make their material shine ... instead of hitting the right notes on the scale.

No one ever said those kinds of comments about Olivier, Burton and many others on the stage, and some voices are down right .... goodness ... but it made the work come out strong ... and a different voice or singer is no different, except that now the "audience" has the right to kill them!

Something is wrong with the perception of the whole thing ... and I think that the top ten mentality is the problem ... funny he didn't say this about Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and others!



Edited by moshkito - April 29 2020 at 07:46
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com
Back to Top
Tom Ozric View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: September 03 2005
Location: Olympus Mons
Status: Offline
Points: 15921 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tom Ozric Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 04:48
A stranger, a worldly man, a stranger, a worldly man, a stranger, a worldly man......Hysterical !!
And on Fripp’s Exposure album - Disengage..........unhinged 🤪
Only PH can get away with the controlled uncontrollability.
Back to Top
Blacksword View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 16130 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Blacksword Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 04:15
A very unique performer, and I love his voice. I can understand why some don't though.
Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!
Back to Top
Frenetic Zetetic View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 09 2017
Location: Now
Status: Offline
Points: 9233 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Frenetic Zetetic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 03:03
Waaaay back when I was first getting into prog rock as a niche, his voice turned me off. I couldn't get past it. Because of this, VDGG remained shelved for years for me. After a certain amount of exposure and personal taste, VDGG and Peter became a top 5 prog rock band for me. I love his voice!

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021
Back to Top
Spacegod87 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 16 2019
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 1107 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Spacegod87 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 02:52
It's an interesting one. He puts great emphasis on certain words, and the emotion he conveys is incredible.
I love it, but I can definitely see why others wouldn't. 
There's something honest about the way he sings, it's bizarre and difficult to describe.
Back to Top
someone_else View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: May 02 2008
Location: Going Bananas
Status: Offline
Points: 24295 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote someone_else Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2020 at 00:25
Originally posted by Mascodagama Mascodagama wrote:

Quite useful if you need to clear mice or other small rodents from an outbuilding.

Permanently.
 

Well, rats are known to avoid places from which other rats have fled with fear .

Back to topic: The ultimate example of an acquired taste. He is a great vocalist, though few might believe that at first hearing.
Back to Top
AFlowerKingCrimson View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: October 02 2016
Location: Philly burbs
Status: Online
Points: 18277 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AFlowerKingCrimson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2020 at 21:22
I have no problem with him. One of the best singers in prog imo.
Back to Top
progmatic View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: August 22 2009
Location: Ohio
Status: Offline
Points: 1785 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote progmatic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2020 at 21:20
On some songs I love him, others I don't.
PROGMATIC
Back to Top
The Dark Elf View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: February 01 2011
Location: Michigan
Status: Offline
Points: 13063 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote The Dark Elf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2020 at 20:39
Originally posted by Hercules Hercules wrote:

I'd rather listen to nails scratching down a blackboard for a week.

If I may paraphrase Charles Baudelaire (who was originally referring to Wagner):

I love Hammill, but the vocality I prefer is that of a cat hung up by its tail outside a window and trying to stick to the panes of glass with its claws.
...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
Back to Top
Run Home Slow View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: August 20 2007
Location: Montreal
Status: Offline
Points: 265 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Run Home Slow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2020 at 20:29
Originally posted by Tom Ozric Tom Ozric wrote:

‘The Hendrix of the voice’ as I read somewhere.
The way he articulates every word, phrase and mood - unbelievable. Can go from soft to guttural in a split second, can be absolutely bonkers at times. He writes intelligent lyrics and the music is mostly adventurous and unique to match. He’s not everyone’s cuppa, but one of the greatest of our time.


Can't say it better...
If you got ears, you gotta listen — Captain Beefheart
Back to Top
friso View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: October 24 2007
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 2506 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote friso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2020 at 09:23
Originally posted by jamesbaldwin jamesbaldwin wrote:

I think there is a great difference between 1969-71 records and 1975-77 records.

I love Hammill's voice in Aerosol / The Least / H to to He / Pawn Haerts: in these Lp he touches the higher notes with an angelic and wonderful voice (Refugees) and he touches the more dramatic notes with an expressionist voice.

Instead in Godbluff (partially) /Still Life / World Record (most of all) / The Queit (partially) he is not able to catch the higher notes and so he sings with an hoarse and strangled voice that it is difficult to listen to.


Yeah I feel very much the same way about this! Enjoy the later VdGG albums as well, but nowhere near as much as the earlier albums and Peter Hammill's debut.
I'm guitarist and songwriter for the prog-related band Mother Bass. Find us at http://www.motherbass.com. I also enter stages throughout the Netherlands performing my poetry.
Back to Top
Manuel View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 09 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 13352 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Manuel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2020 at 09:03
Not really my favorite, though he is a good singer, with good technique. I just don't like his tone. 

Edited by Manuel - April 28 2020 at 09:04
Back to Top
Hercules View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: June 14 2007
Location: Near York UK
Status: Offline
Points: 7024 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hercules Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2020 at 08:54
I'd rather listen to nails scratching down a blackboard for a week.
A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life.
Back to Top
Mascodagama View Drop Down
Collaborator
Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: December 30 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 5111 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mascodagama Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2020 at 08:50
Originally posted by moshkito moshkito wrote:

Originally posted by Mascodagama Mascodagama wrote:

Quite useful if you need to clear mice or other small rodents from an outbuilding.

Permanently.




You must be listening to Yoko One a bit too much! Big smile
I was just joshing; I'm a big Hammill & VdGG fan. Yoko, not so much...
Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to.
Bandcamp Profile
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.148 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.