FOOL'S MATE

Hammill's solo debut is mostly acoustic effort, almost in a singer/songwritier folk style. But this fact does not make it less innovative, emotional, personal or musically creative - on the contrary. The entire VDGG is here present as a backing band with a little help from R. Fripp. Apart from two sympathetic, albeit rather silly opening A and B side of the vinyl, "Imperial Zeppelin" and "Sunshine" respectively, the album contains a load of excellent songs which shows an enormous creative capacity of Peter Hammill that he wanted to spare VDGG of his too personal poetic expressions. Paul Whitehead's cover picture is excellent too (it invokes early Genesis album covers as well as "Pawn Hearts"). Highlights include: "Candle", "Solitude", "Re-awakening", "The Birds"... If you like more acoustic side of VDGG, this album is highly recommended.