Contenido de esta entrada:
Enlaces, letras y opinión personal
Anterior entrada de Peter Hammill: 1974: En la cámara con Peter Hammill
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| Portada del álbum Nadir's Big Chance |
Enlaces interesantes sobre Peter Hammill y Van der Graaf Generator:
En un anterior artículo comentamos el cuarto álbum de Van der Graaf Generator, Pawn Hearts, (1971: Corazones de peón con Van der Graaf Generator).
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| Portada del álbum Pawn Heart |
Tras la publicación del álbum las giras regulares por Europa siguieron durante los siguientes cuatro meses, pero la tensión de la carga de trabajo se volvió demasiado para la banda, y se separaron en agosto de 1972.
En un anterior artículo comentamos los inicios de Peter Hammill y su primer álbum en solitario, Fool's Mate : 1971: El jaque mate de Peter Hammill.
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| Portada del álbum Fool's Mate |
Su arte fue caracterizado siempre por un gran espíritu de innovación y eclecticismo que ha servido como referencia de grandes bandas progresivas de la época. La poesía de Hammill, a veces oscura y excesivamente misteriosa, le ha valido críticas no siempre benévolas desde los medios y publicaciones especializadas, lo cual poco pareció importarle.
Su carrera como músico solista presenta un difuso límite entre sus creaciones personales y aquellas desarrolladas desde el grupo Van der Graaf Generator, pues su estilo inconfundible se hace presente tanto en uno como en otro ámbito, inclusive compartiendo frecuentemente sesiones de grabación con varios de los músicos integrantes de la banda. En general, el trabajo en solitario de Hammill se ocupa temáticamente de asuntos más personales, mientras que las canciones de la banda tratan temas más amplios.
Cuando Van der Graaf Generator se separó de nuevo en agosto de 1972, Hammill reanudó su carrera en solitario. Las canciones que estaban destinadas a Van der Graaf Generator ahora terminarán en sus álbumes en solitario. Los álbumes en solitario de Hammill de este período cuentan con la actuación de otros ex miembros de Van der Graaf Generator.
En un anterior artículo comentamos su segundo álbum en solitario Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night publicado en 1973: 1973: El camaleón en la sombra de la noche con Peter Hammill
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| Portada del álbum Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night. |
En un anterior artículo comentamos su tercer álbum, The Silent Corner and The Empty Stage, publicado en 1974: 1974: Peter Hammill en el rincón silencioso y el escenario vacío.
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| Portada del tercer álbum de Peter Hammill |
En un anterior artículo nos ocupamos de su cuarto álbum en solitario titulado In Camera que fue publicado en julio de 1974: 1974: En la cámara con Peter Hammill
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| Portada del álbum In Camera |
En este artículo nos ocupamos de su quinto álbum Nadir's Big Chance publicado en 1975.
Grabación del álbum
Fue grabado poco después de la decisión de volver a formar la banda Van der Graaf Generator (de la cual Hammill era el cantante y compositor principal) y Nadir's Big Chance es interpretado por la formación reformada de Van der Graaf Generator. En aquel tiempo la composición y selección de canciones para el que sería el siguiente álbum de Van de Graaf Generator estaba también en marcha. Estaba claro que un álbum en solitario de Peter Hammill en aquellos momentos invadiría el territorio de Van de Graaf Generator.
El álbum fue producido por él mismo. Cuando se juntaron en los estudios Rockfold, Monmouthshire, entre el 1 y el 7 de diciembre de 1974 para grabar el álbum, sería la primera vez que los miembros de VdGG tocaban juntos desde hacia mucho tiempo. Fue mezclado entre el 10 y 13 de diciembre en los estudios Trident de Londres.
Las canciones del álbum varían mucho en estilo, como lo reconoce Hammill en las notas de la portada, que se refieren a "las canciones punk robustas, las baladas llorosas, los puntales del alma".
El personaje Rikki Nadir de la canción principal es un músico tonto que toca rock de garaje que intenta entrar en el negocio de la música armado solo con guitarras ruidosas y su actitud. El personaje de regresó en octubre de 1979, cuando Hammill lanzó un sencillo titulado "The Polaroid" bajo el nombre de Rikki Nadir, con "The Old School Tie" de pH7 como lado B. Fue incluido en algunas copias americanas de pH7.
El álbum incluye dos de las baladas más frecuentemente interpretadas por Hammill en conciertos y sesiones para la radio, "Been Alone So Long" (escrita por Judge Smith) y "Shingle Song", y una reelaboración del primer sencillo de Van der Graaf Generator de 1968, "People You Were Going To".
El álbum presentó el primer uso de Hammill del teclado Hohner clavinet D6, que apareció prominentemente en los siguientes álbumes de Van der Graaf Generator (particularmente Godbluff).
"Been Alone So Long" fue reelaborada para el álbum de Hammill de 1984 The Love Songs.
Lanzamiento del álbum
El álbum fue lanzado en 1 de febrero de 1975 con Charisma Records. En Estados Unidos no se publicó.
El diseño de la portada es del propio Hammill acreditado en la funda con el seudónimo de Dinu M'Brela.
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| Contraportada del álbum |
El álbum no venía con las letras; este fue el primer álbum de Hammill en hacer que el oyente dependiera de lo que escuchara.
Recepción
La prensa musical del Reino Unido fue generalmente muy positiva sobre el álbum.
Representando un giro estilístico a la izquierda de Peter Hammill, este plato de rock estridente y desordenado fue citado a menudo como una influencia por la primera ola de punks en Inglaterra... ...Entre las delicias están la pista del título, "Birthday Special", la dolorosa "Pompeya" y una nueva versión del primer sencillo de Van der Graaf Generator "People You Were Going To". Hammill nunca se dejaría ser tan salvaje y peludo otra vez. Steven McDonald en AllMusic
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| Crítica de Geoff Barton en Sounds |
Legado
En una entrevista de radio en 1977, John Lydon de los Sex Pistols tocó dos canciones del álbum,"The Institute of Mental Health, Burning" y "Nobody's Business", y expresó su admiración por Hammill en términos brillantes: "Peter Hammill es genial. Un verdadero original. Me ha gustado durante años. Si lo escuchas, sus álbumes en solitario, estoy muy seguro de que Bowie copió mucho de ese vejestorio. El crédito que merece, simplemente no se le ha dado. Me encantan todas sus cosas".
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| John Lydon con los Sex Pistols en 1977 |
Enlaces, letras y opinión personal
Enlace a la lista de reproducción del álbum: Nadir's Big Chance
Lista de canciones
Cara 1
1. "Nadir's Big Chance" 3:27
2. "The Institute of Mental Health, Burning" Hammill, Chris Judge Smith 3:50
3. "Open Your Eyes" 5:10
4. "Nobody's Business" 4:15
5. "Been Alone So Long" Chris Judge Smith 4:20
6. "Pompeii" 4:50
Cara 2
1. "Shingle Song" 4:10
2. "Airport" 3:02
3. "People You Were Going To" 5:10
4. "Birthday Special" 3:40
5. "Two or Three Spectres" 6:20
CARA A
A1 Nadir's Big Chance
Enlaces
Letras
[[Intro]
One, two, three, four!
Wooh!
Yeah!
Oh, oh yeah!
[Verse 1]
I've been hanging around, waiting for my chance
To tell you what I think about the music that's gone down
To which you madly danced – frankly, you know that it stinks
I'm gonna scream, gonna shout, gonna play my guitar
Until your body's rigid and you see stars
[Verse 2]
Look at all the jerks in their tinsel glitter suits
Pansying around; look at all the nerks
In their leather platform boots, making with the heavy sound...
I'm gonna stamp on the stardust and scream 'til I'm ill –
If the guitar don't get ya, the drums will
[Instrumental Break]
Huh
[Verse 3]
Now's my big break – let me up on the stage
I'll show you what it's all about; enough of the fake
Bang your feet in a rage, tear down the walls and let us out!
We're more than mere morons, perpetually conned
So come on everybody, smash the system with the song
Come on everybody, smash the system with the song!
[Outro]
Smash the system with the song!
A2 The Institute of Mental Health, Burning
Enlaces
Letras
[Verse 1]
It was the first day of July;
No wind breathed in the sky
When a pin-striped suit
Saw that the Institute of Mental Health was burning
[Verse 2]
He stood upon the corner
Where the sun was warmer...
Looking across the street
He moved the shackles on his feet
As the Institute was burning
[Bridge]
Flames were roaring, singing like a thunderstorm;
Smoke was pouring straight up to the sky;
Windows smashing, Gothic doors and lintels fall;
Timbers crashing and we both know why
[Verse 3]
Nobody else came by to stare;
You see, they didn't really care
We can't call the fire brigade -
None of them had been paid
And so the Institute is burning
[Bridge]
Out the city, people say it isn't pretty
Everyone agrees, and everyone feels glad;
Doctored brains celebrate and everyone waves their chains...
It's a pity they're all mad
[Verse 4]
The Institute of Mental Health (Ohh)
Spontaneously killed itself (Ooh)
(Ooh, wah) Ashes to ashes
(Ooh, wah) And dust to dust:
(Ooh, wah) My chains began to rust
As the Institute was burning
[Outro]
Burning, burning, burning, burning, burning
Burning, burning, burning, burning, burning
Burning, burning, burning, burning, burning
Burning, burning, burning, burning, burning
Burning, burning, burning, burning, burning
Burning, burning, burning, burning, burning
Burning, burning, burning, burning, burning
Burning, burning, burning, burning, burning
Burning, burning, burning, burning, burning
Burning, burning, burning, burning
A3 Open Your Eyes
Enlaces
Letras
[Intro]
Okay, man, [?]
Alright, [?]
[?]
Okay, man, okay, man, [?]
Open your eyes, baby
Yeah, you've got to open your eyes, [?]
Oh, you've got large eyes, man, open [?]
Okay, baby
You've got to open your eyes, that's time, alright?
Okay, alright, alright, alright, alright
One, two, three, four
[Verse 1]
I was sitting in the dance-hall
But my mind was far away
So when the usherette walked over
I didn't know quite what to say
I tried to look cool
But I knew that I blew it somehow
Her fishnet tights took me quite by surprise...
I had to open my eyes
[Verse 2]
Well, I told her I was dancing
But she didn't seem to hear;
She asked if I wanted to learn judo
Then she threw me out on my ear
Before I'd even had time to take a bow
I landed on the street, all dishevelled my disguise
But I really opened her eyes
[Organ Solo]
[Verse 3]
So if you're leaning over the balcony
Or hanging around the floor
These are the last of the days of the Locarnos--
There really are no more
And the usherette smiles
But she's not telling all she knows....
But there's time in the end for us all to get wise
If we only open our eyes
[Interlude]
We've got to open our eyes
[Saxophone Solo]
A4 Nobody’s Business
Enlaces
Letras
[Intro]
(Yeah? Yeah?)
Huh
[Verse 1]
Look out through your dark hair
Tell me the colour of your eyes when they're cool;
Look out through the dark ages
And tell me what's covert, transfixing you
[Chorus]
Oh, you're nobody's business
Oh, oh, oh, you're nobody's business
And the patterns of your life
Are suddenly twisted and torn
And gone are all the clothes that you've worn
Just like yesterday's papers
You're tired and forlorn
And you're no-one
[Verse 2]
Look back at the photos you've saved
Dead mementoes of your modelling days;
I look through all my cuttings of you
But they all seem so lost, so dead, out of phase
[Chorus]
Oh, you're nobody's business
Oh, you're nobody's business
And the patterns of your life
Are suddenly twisted and torn
And gone are all the clothes that you've worn
Just like yesterday's papers
You're tired and forlorn
And you're no-one
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 3]
I think back to the girl that I knew -
She doesn't seem so very much like you:
She used to care about her smile and not her face...
That's before it was her fortune and took over her soul's place
[Chorus]
Oh, you're nobody's business
Oh, you're nobody's business
And the patterns of your life
Are suddenly twisted and torn
And gone are all the clothes that you've worn
Just like yesterday's papers
You're tired and forlorn
And you're no-one
No-one
No-one
[Outro]
Papering yesterday's pages
Tapering off in the storm
You're no-one
A5 Been Alone So Long
Enlaces
Videos
Letras
[[Chorus]
Been alone so long
That I've forgotten what it's like
To feel somebody next to me
And hear her breathing peacefully
When I wake up at night
Wake up at night
[Verse 1]
Been alone so long
That I've forgotten what to say -
If I meet somebody who
Might easily resemble you
I smile, but look away...
I look away
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 2]
Been alone so long
That I've forgotten what to do:
How to make the whole thing right
And how to help if she's uptight
And when to run and when to fight...
How to make her stay the night -
That's if I ever knew
If I ever knew
[Chorus]
Been alone so long
That I've forgotten what it's like
To feel somebody next to me
And hear her breathing peacefully
When I wake up at night
Wake up at night
[Instrumental Break]
[Saxophone Solo]
A6 Pompeii
Enlaces
Letras
[Verse 1]
The golden dream, the seat of all decorum
A satellite to match the light of Rome;
Its silver children chatter in the Forum
The bath-house, and the brothels, and their homes
About the latest fashions for their clothes
Across the Tyrrhenian Sea comes drifting
A song that none of them have ever known
[Verse 2]
The golden dream that holds back all the hours
For the ladies in their Dionysian rites
The blonde heads all garlanded with flowers
Wine and love and laughter through the night
In constant masque and pageant, constant flight
The ground below them whispers in a murmur
Of passion that is hotter yet than white
[Verse 3]
The golden dream, the city of all cities
Its towers piercing into azure sky
Whose hand is dealt, regardless of all pity
Condemned to martyrdom, but not to die
Two lovers look up from their hidden bower
The wine has stood too long and it turns sour
[Outro]
I see the tall and bending of the streets
But now they echo only leather tourist feet
And waking, ashen, grey-blue blinding death
Your sudden winding-sheet
CARA B
B1 Shingle Song
Enlaces
Letras
[Verse 1]
You can see in the last light that's graced as dawn
That there's nothing in my heart but pain
As I stand, facing sea, knowing that you're gone…
All the elements rage to explain
That I should really be on my way
But there is something
Which ensures I must stay
[Verse 2]
Against the roar of the seething surf
Against the caterwaul of scattered call wind
Thoughts and gestures unspoken, unheard
And now the dance of rapture begins
As the waves rush along across the beach –
Like you, like your love
Forever out of reach
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 3]
Look at the sky, but it's empty now;
Look at the sea, it holds nothing but despair
I raise my eyes, but my head stays bowed…
I look to my side, but you're not there
And I can't get you out of my mind
No, no, no, I just can't get you from my mind
I can't get you out of my mind
No, no, no, I just can't get you from my mind
[Outro]
No, no, no, I just can't get you from my mind
No, no, no, no, I just can't get you from my mind
No, no, no, I just can't get you from my mind
Videos
B2 Airport
Enlaces
Letras
[Verse 1]
I stand on the tallest building
And stare down at the grey runway
And the tail-smoke of the Boeing jet
That's taking you so far away
[Chorus]
Believe me, I don't want you to leave me;
Look in my eyes and you'll see them filled with pain
Imagine just how sad I'll be
In some future day when I turn
And no longer see your face
All I can now cry is goodbye, love, goodbye
[Verse 2]
In a week, in a month, in a year
In a lifetime how I'll feel none can tell
All I know is now you're going
There's really no-one here to help
[Chorus]
Believe me, I don't want you to leave me;
Look in my eyes and you'll see them filled with pain
Imagine just how sad I'll be
In some future day when I turn
And no longer see your face
All I can now cry is goodbye, love, goodbye
[Bridge]
Already it's too late, you're through the boarding-gate
And walking on the tarmac
Already you are free, already you've left me
And cannot bear to look back, can you?
[Verse 3]
A brief taxi on the runway
Then up into the stilling night sky;
And I'm standing on the observation tower
My eyes too dimmed by distance to cry
[Outro]
Believe me, I don't want you to leave me;
Look in my eyes and you'll see them filled with pain
Imagine just how sad I'll be
In some future day when I turn
And no longer see your face
All I can now do is walk away alone without you
B3 People You Were Going To
Enlaces
Letras
[Verse 1]
Your father has just left your mother
Gone off to live with his latest lover;
She sits there, just staring
So you get back to your own flat
Because the atmosphere in there
Is so bad you can't bear it
And the people you were going to America with
Just left on the dawn plane
Without you
[Verse 2]
The people in the downstairs flat
Are no longer there now because they left
The gas tap on, they're all dead
So you've no-one left to talk to
You just lie there in melancholy
Half-naked on your unmade bed
And the people you were going to Africa with
Just left on the Southern Star
Without you, without you
[Bridge]
Yes, and the haze that's been forming round your window-panes
Is now protracted and poisoned
And you cannot feel a portion of the world outside
[Verse 3]
Can you imagine the way you'd feel
If all these things had happened to you
And the doctor says you're dying?
That is the way that I feel now
On finding that your love belongs
To someone else and not I
And my chance of heaven has just blown away
Upon a passing cloud and there is nothing that I can do
Without you, without you
Yes, and my chance of heaven has just blown away
Upon a passing cloud and there is nothing that I can do
Without you, without you
Without you, without you
Without you
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
The people you were going to
Have left, gone far away
And you're lonely
The people you were going to
Have left, gone far away
And you're lonely
The people you were going to
Have left, gone far away
And you're lonely
The people you were going to
Have left, gone far away
And you're lonely
The people you were going to
Have left, gone far away
And you're lonely
The people you were going to
Have left, gone far away
Gone to America on the down plane
The people you were going to
Have left, gone far away
Gone to service [?] on to Africa
The people you were going to
Have left, gone far away
And you're lonely now
The people you were going...
B4 Birthday Special
Enlaces
Letras
[Verse 1]
I've got something to say
And it ain't the usual sort of sob-story
That you hear every day
I've got something to ask
And I know that now's the time
Now all the rooms of the party are dark
Proffer me the candy
Yes, I understand is fine;
Blow another candle out
And throw another line....
[Chorus]
Birthday girl, I've got something for you
There's ice in the cauldron, look out now;
Birthday girl, here comes a special
Like Hansel and Gretel never had
[Verse 2]
There's parrots in the pantry
And there's lizards in the loo; (Toot, toot, toot, toot, toot, toot, toot)
There's bloaters in the bathroom
And this party is a zoo; (Toot, toot, toot, toot, toot, toot, toot)
I'm sitting in the kitchen
Trying hard to talk to you (Bi-Bi-Bi-Bi-Bi-Bi-Bi—)
[Chorus]
Birthday girl, I've got something for you
There's ice in the cauldron, look out now;
Birthday girl, well, here comes a special
Like Hansel and Gretel never had
[Instrumental Break]
(Ooh!)
[Verse 3]
I just wanted to say
That I'd like to make this the happiest of all your birthdays
And if that means turning the key
Then I'll turn it with you and there'll be no doubt
About the way I agree
[Chorus]
Birthday girl, I've got something for you
There's ice in the cauldron, look out now;
Birthday girl, here comes a special
Like Hansel and Gretel never had
Birthday girl, I've got something for you
There's ice in the cauldron, look out now;
Birthday girl, here comes a special
Like Hansel and Gretel never had
B5 Two or Three Spectres
Enlaces
Letras
[Intro: Hugh Banton & Peter Hammill]
Oh, why didn't you say, more Stevie Wonder?
Haha!
[Verse 1]
"Sod the music", said the man in the suit
"I understand profit and without that, it's no use
Why don't you go away and write commercial songs;
Come back in three years, that shouldn't be too long…"
He's a joker and an acrobat
A record exec. in a Mayfair flat
With Altec speakers wall to wall
A Radford and a Revox and through it all he plays
Strictly nowhere Muzak
[Verse 2]
"Hey, listen, baby, this band's got a lot of soul…
If we can beat that out of them I see a disc of gold!
Give them an image, maybe glitter, maybe sex
Maybe outrage, maybe elegance –
How about as nervous wrecks?"
Signs up the product at two percent
Justified by vinyl shortage and the increased rent
On the yacht he has to hire to make his pitch at Midem
And all the press receptions for his business friends
Who spill their Taittinger upon the floor
While the band sip English lager just outside the door
[Bridge]
Treble, alto, bass clefs on the page
Crotchets, quavers, minims all the rage
But you'll never find a pound note in the score –
But it's there when it's strictly merchandise
Through all the propagated lies about what the whole thing's for
He'll make you a star, he'll make you so famous
That all you desire is to be left nameless
Drained of all you felt you had to offer at the start
He knows what eats your heart
That's too bad
[Verse 3]
Not without blame, either, are the gentlemen of the press:
You can talk about the state of music
They will write about your dress
Play them the new album, they will say it's great (Or not) –
When the articles come out
They're all about how many dogs you've got
God to keep the human interest high
And the hacks are only too willing to comply
Pander to the ego, build up frail men as gods –
But somewhere in the process, the prime purpose is forgotten
Now I bet you thought that was a hard line to sing
But I've done it anyway, it's my thing!
[Verse 4]
Groupies offer their bodies, the hangers-on their coke;
It's all very jolly – huh, what a joke!
Fellini creatures cluster round the dressing-room
The heavenly bodies all got to have their moons
In the cult of the superman the music plays a supporting role
And far more important is the shape of his nose
The size of his codpiece and the cut of his clothes…
Soul and feeling always take second place
To the bump and grind of a Fender bass
[Bridge]
Frankly, most musicians bore me – but not as much as those
Who chase the glory to bask in reflected light
Making the man much more important
Than his arpeggios and mordants
When it's the other way that's right
On the values by which this world makes its heroes
Then the best violinist ever was Nero
Because he had the most Press
And his fire gimmick was simply the best
[Outro]
That's all that is to it, my boy
But not really
We got the live thing too
The Human Zoo:
Ten thousand arms are raised, just like the Hitler Youth –
Might think you were at Nuremberg, if it weren't for all the groovers
Ten thousand peace signs mark the entry of the sax
Ten thousand peace signs
But they're different from the back
(Ha!)
[Saxophone Solo]
Mi opinión personal sobre el álbum:
Peter Hammill nos vuelve a demostrar su potencial compositivo e interpretativo. En un anterior artículo comenté que ese mismo año Neu! publicó un álbum con dos caras diferentes. Por un lado música ambiente/cósmica y por otro lado punk. En este álbum encontramos también las dos caras de la moneda, por una parte baladas intimas y por otro lado punk desgarrador. Esto demuestra la versatilidad de Hammill. Nos vuelve a sorprender con otra evolución de sonido al abandonar el uso del sintetizador y el melotrón típicos del rock progresivo. A mi me gustan más, está claro, las baladas como "Been Alone So Long", "Shingle Song" y "Airport". Two Or Three Spectres sería el tema más cercano a VdGG. Pompeii también me gusta bastante.
Reediciones
Fue publicado por primera vez en CD en 1988. En 2006 fue publicado en forma remasterizada por EMI Virgin Records.
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| Contraportada de la edición de 2006 |
Créditos
Peter Hammill – voz, guitarra acústica y eléctrica, Hohner clavinet, piano (7, 9), bajo (11)
David Jackson – saxofón (todas las pistas)
Hugh Banton – bajo (1-10), piano (2, 6, 11), órgano Hammond (3, 9)
Guy Evans – batería, percusión (todas las pistas)
Técnico
Pat Moran – ingeniero de grabación (Rockfield Studios, Monmouth)
Mike Stone – mezcla (Trident Studios, Londres)
Dinu M'Brela (alias de Peter Hammill) – diseño de portada
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