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Translation
After a 5 year absence Peter Hammill charmed his enthusiastic admirers
Almost 700 famished fans reserved a
triumphant greeting for Peter Hammill and his two accomplices last night at
St-Charles-Garnier college's salle Jacques-Marquette. Hammill returned the
welcome with a vibrant performance.
Peter Hammill is hard to find these pas
years. His records are poorly distributed and his last visit was at least 5
years ago. However, last night we came to the conclusion that his fans have not
forgotten him. In fact, few artists can pride themselves to have such enthusiastic
supporters. There exists a special bond between Hammill and them.
Since the days of Van der Graaf Generator and progressive music, the man has
lead a career without making the least concession, making him a classic of
his genre. That's what in part explains his publics passion towards him. But it's by
seeing him perform that we can better understand it.
Hammill has a special stage presence. He gives himself completely, consumes
himself and radiates. A mountain of emotion! Eyes closed, he sings in confidence and then howls as
if his life depended on it. Possessed, he drives us through his world of
lost love and fleeting time... which leaves us speechless and with shivers
crawling up and down the spine. Be it on piano or on guitar, Hammill is what we'd call a technician, but
accompanied by Stuart Gordon, author of many lovely passages, and the
imperturbable bassist Nic Potter, he delivers his compositions with such
intensity that it makes up for it. An evening high in emotion!
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