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Peter Hammill - X My Heart

Artist:	Peter Hammill
Title:	X My Heart
Label:	Fie! 9111
Length(s):	51 minutes
Year(s) of release:	1996
Month of review:	06/1996

Line up

Peter Hammill - guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals
Stuart Gordon - violin, viola
Manny Elias - drums, percussion
David Jackson - sax, flutes

Tracks

1)	A Better Time	5.14
2)	Amnesiac	5.36
3)	Ram Origami	5.28
4)	A Forest Of Pronouns	5.18
5)	Earthbound	5.23
6)	Narcissus (Bar & Grill)	6.45
7)	Material Possession	6.09
8)	Come Clean	5.02
9)	A Better Time	5.33

Summary

While I was interviewing PH I got this CD to review and so here it is. Lets see if the growing quality of Roaring Forties with respect to The Noise can be extended.

The music

If this album should be compared to any of PH's album, I'd compared it with Fireships. It starts out as quiet as possible with an a capella track. The song is rather melodramatic and very melodic as well. Some background vocals (by PH of course) do keep it interesting, but not too interesting.

Still, the next one if better. Again it starts out rather subdued, but the chorus is rather loud and biting (just the word Amnesiac) and the song ends violently and climactically with a lot of violin and sax.

The next track is rather atmospheric with some melancholy sax in the back. A good melody and it certainly lingers. If you ignore the arrangement it's awfully close to ordinary pop almost. By the way there's a great abrupt change in the song here, into percussive piano.

The next one is very different actually, based mostly on guitar. It's a little haunting and also very percussive to evoke a jungle atmosphere. A good track with a good melody and with a difference. Also a very intricately arranged and sung, chorus.

Earthbound is a lament and well relaxing and also a bit sad, but not something to get excited about as well. I can compare PH here with Black (who still knows him?)

The next one is quite strange. It starts out with a bouncy acoustic guitar. Contrary to many of the other songs, the song doesn't really flow, but is more jumpy and tries to put you on a wrong footing. Still, rather likeable and funny in a way.

The next track has got some criticism over its cliche lyrics, but still I like it. The beginning reminds me of His Best Girl (Fireships), but it contains a very good part in which PH sings very quickly. The atmosphere is sort of Arabic throughout the song, because of the use of violin and flute.

Come Clean is not very interesting and a bit monotonous and a bit too laid back for me. A weak one.

A Better Time we already heard before but here some intrumentation is provided for. Still a little melodramatic and a little too romantic for me.

Conclusion

Hmm, kind of quiet album like Fireships. Still it has a little more bite than Fireships by means of the sometimes violent sax and violin. The song are not very progressive one might say, but they can be very memorable and the melodies are pleasing as well. Still, some tracks just aren't interesting enough (1, 5 and 8). As a whole singer songwriter but with interesting arrangements. The lyrics are good as alwatys (but not always). Some parts remind me of Passion of Gabriel, because of the world like influences, which aren't many, but present. Still, it seems, the melodies get better.