Peter Hammill [Van der Graaf Generator] "A Louse is not a Home" (react episode 804)
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- Опубликовано: 28 июл 2024
- #peterhammill #alouseisnotahome #vandergraafgenerator #progrock #uk #Reaction #DeanWolfe
0:00 intro
2:44 song
14:53 post-song comments
►A reaction to a song by Peter Hammill, from his third solo album 'the silent corner and the empty stage' we react to 'a louse is not a home' (1974). The commenter who recommended the song suggested what a masterpiece it is, and let's find out for ourselves and see!
Peter is the founder of Van der Graaf Generator.
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Видеоклипы
0:00 intro
2:44 song
14:53 post-song comments
VDGG/Peter Hammill have created many songs that could be classed as the greatest prog song ever!
Полностью согласен величайший музыкант. I completely agree, the greatest musician.
Its about time VDGG/Peter Hammill got the recognition they deserve, pity its come years too late.
The whole album is superb. It’s worth an hour of your life to listen to the entire thing.
מדויק!
And everytime you listen again, it gets even better.
masterpiece! Hammill is possibly the greatest Artist around 👏👏👏
O gosh, this is the first time one of my suggestions actually got a video! Wow, thanks :) It was really interesting reacting to a reaction while listening to the song. I could feel how long the song can feel. (It's a strange experience to watch someone else listening to a song one loves.) It was fun seeing you light up at spots where I was like, "Yep." Lots of agrees with your comments and the ones down below. There's a live version of "Still Life" on RUclips that is better than the studio version (sound quality is worse), which is kind of mind-boggling to imagine. And "Childlike Faith in Childhood's End" as a companion piece to it. Peak. Hammill's full length suite "Flight" from "Black Box."
I wouldn't try to defend my hyperbole "best prog song ever" in any absolute sense. But as you mentioned, it lingers; I think the journey it takes the listener on is a really profound exploration of what Hammill is up to a lot of the time. He actually has a lot of songs about houses and interior spaces; he even did a "musical" based on "Fall of the House of Usher." (And on the live album Vital alone, "Door" and "Mirror Image" are more examples; "Pioneers over c" may count too). Hammill's explorations of identity within our human/existential condition are some of the most introspective one will ever find in music, and "Louse" in that sense probably has no equal, unless it is something else Hammill did. His combination of often extremely cerebral lyrics, belted out in the way that he does, is his hallmark. I really liked your comment, "He's not singing. This is a performance." Yes, Hammill gives an impression of somehow fully occupying his pieces (most of the time). Frankly, the opening simple chord progression and how he's singing here ("Sometimes it's very scary here. Sometimes, it's very sad") ... unusually straightforward for him but impactful. (When it comes back again at the end is when my soul-spirit-existence really soars.) As a cerebral person who wants to howl into whole cosmos sometimes, he really hits the mark. In terms of song journeys, I love the voyage that Louse creates; I really noticed the switches from fast to slow in the song. It is not a "good" pacing like, say, "Gates of Delirium." Being steeped in the listening, letting the pulse of the song follow its own logic, i.e., when not "watching" it but being "inside" it, the only other song that gives me such a perfect journey is "Echoes". It's a giant (and I mean giant, like cosmic scale) "mood" that puts us in the baffling abyss of a Scorpio's existential wondering in the Universe. ("Wondering" is a beautiful VDGG song.) I think this is why "Plague of Lighthouse-Keepers" gets recommended so much because, in a way, it's like a prequel to Louse, more expansive and sprawling, for that reason less concentrated but more varied. Ultimately, Louse is about the solitary person's experiences, whereas other Hammill and VDGG songs can be more about humanity generally; "Plague" is about lighthouse-keepers (in the plural), while Louse (plural lice) is singular.
I'm spooling out reflections here. Ultimately, my enthusiasm as "best" isn't merely idiosyncratic, although it arises out of my particular experiences. Something like Kate Bush's "Get out of my House" (more houses!) has something of the same obsessive interiority. Maybe it's me who is the one who resonates so deeply when someone starts singing about a "house" whether that's a building or the universe as a whole. My litmus test, finally, is that I want to go back to this song often; I never tire if I happen across it. It might be "personally" best for me in that sense, but I think it's because I do respond to something that has a quality not just personal, like Tarkovsky's Mirror or most of his Nostalghia. Music is subjective but it's also not only subjective.
Again, much appreciating for being a good sport and taking the journey with me and us! I'm especially glad you followed the lyrics. I don't normally care about lyrics either, but Hammill is the major exception.
Looking forward to more of what you do.
A masterpiece indeed. Up there with Supper's Ready and Close to the Edge as, in my opinion, the greatest prog songs. He is the most intense performer I ever seen live. You get pummeled by the raw energy and emotion in his performance. An underappreciated genius.
I'll never forget the one and only time I saw his solo show back in the late 90s at The Bottom Line in NYC. He opened with Modern and as soon as he started singing every emotion welled inside and rose out of me. To see and hear him and that voice in person is something else!
Not for everybody but for me, this is everything. Has been on my playlists for decades. Love both Peter's solo work and the masterful VDG. Music lovers are prepared to give music a chance before deciding how much they love a song. Too many people give up if they don't love a song on first listen. Long live prog and prog lovers.
Louse is nothing short of astonishing. Words don't do it justice but I played it in my kitchen at volume with my pal and brother. We just all stood there in complete fucking reverence. It makes me cry. Lyrics completely on the nose as is pretty much the norm with Peter but this one resonates and then some. The best description of mental anguish I've known. The greatest prog number ever? Yeah maybe. VDGG were sublime.
Yes it is a masterpiece
I love VDG and Peter. Got into them when I was 16 and I am 66 now.
Che PETER HAMMILL abbia scritto dei CAPOLAVORI sia con i VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR e come SOLISTA.... È INDUBBIO che sia COSÌ!!!!!!! Adoro i VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR e anche PETER HAMMILL da solo!!!!!!
Im 16 and I really like VDGG :)
@@asuspiciouspresence2176 Good age to start your VDGG journey - enjoy
I am old so must promote Peter Hamill . Have absorbed this man and his friends inc Bob Fripp, he is a genius. 40 yrs experience of this stands all tests of time. Saw Generator 8 maybe 10 yrs ago in Wolverhampton, brilliant.
Unplugged version of this song is incredible... There is YT video from Swiss TV with Hammill performance. Stunnig.
The Swiss TV is some of the best live footage ever. ''The Lie '' and ''Forsaken Gardens'' are incredible and then ''A Louse'' goes to whole new levels of intensity. I defy any true music lover not to be impressed and moved by it - even if they can't like Peters vocal style, his commitment and lyrical honesty is priceless
Очень сильный голос у Питера, а тексты просто божественны. Уже очень много лет его слушаю и каждый раз ловлю кайф...🤯😎
The plague of lighthouse keepers
Lost
Man-erg
Lemmings
Darkness
Scorched earth
Arrow
The sleepwalkers
Pilgrims
La rossa
Cat's eye........
One of his best, no doubt. I would add to an personal short list (its too many masterpieces there...) "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" (one of his most astounding performances), "Arrow " and "Childlike Faith in Childhood's End" (which I personally find beyond epic). Great post songs comments!
Grande intenditore
"Childlike Faith in Childhood's End" as the answer to "Still Life" ... amazing.
Great to hear this classic once again from the most singular performer in prog. As you liked this, you will certainly enjoy Godbluff, especially ‘The Sleepwalkers’ which is a similar classic. I recommend you listen to their previous album ‘Pawn Hearts’, widely regarded as their best, which contains the 23 minute epic ‘A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers’ - even more complex and intense than ‘Louse’. The follow-up to Godbluff, ‘Still Life’ is also considered one of their best, especially the title track and ‘La Rossa’. Always perceived as a niche underground band, VDGG and Hammill are too extreme musically and lyrically for many prog fans but in the opinion of their fans are the most talented and adventurous in the genre.
My favorite an Godbluff is, and always has been, Arrow, for the violence and the voice.
Quanta poesia emana il sound dei VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR!!!!!!! E anche PETER HAMMILL solista. Il percorso musicale di HAMMILL e dei VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR è intenso, oscuro misterioso sofferto profondo nelle liriche bellissime e NON semplici da interpretare, e anche NON facili da cantare!!!!!!! QUASI mai si intravede solarità nel loro SOUND, ma è indubbiamente anche la LORO FORZA il LORO FASCINO il LORO MARCHIO DI FABBRICA sin dal loro PRIMISSIMO album THE AEROSOL GREY MACHINE del 1969 !!!!!!!!!
Though from a solo album this is a VdGG song, played by them live before and after this release and played by the whole band on this album. The most recent VdGG release "The Bath Forum Concert", a live album recorded in 2022 , also features the song (but with the sax parts played on an organ as David Jackson left the band some years ago).
,people who love PH
Is the people i want to know
The best lyrics of all time for me, the depth of this song is amazes me, sometimes I cry, sometimes I'm just melancholy, sometimes I'm very inspired when I listen to this song. God give everyone feeling of home in their lives, thanks for reaction
Absolutely Brilliant, best prog song, best artist of my life
Thx 😀- was going to suggest this yesterday - first time I saw your video.
Always great to hear Peter. I thought I had missed VDGG but caught a 'solo' concert where Guy, David & I think Nic were playing along, with others I didn't know, not the solo gig I was expecting. They are still making new music now as a trio (Peter, Guy & Hugh), I miss the wind in the mix. If you are looking for other work by VDGG to react to and want to do something different you could compare the recorded and live versions of 'Pioneers over C' the original recording is on 'H to He Who Am The Only One' the live version on 'Vital', its a difficult comparison to make they are clearly the same song but also very different.
You have got to see the Swiss TV performance. It is some of the best live footage ever. ''The Lie '' and ''Forsaken Gardens'' are incredible and then ''A Louse is not a Home'' goes to whole new levels of intensity. I defy any true music lover not to be impressed and moved by it - even if they can't like Peters vocal style, his commitment and lyrical honesty is priceless
I saw one of those. He is an intense performer
Yes. Intense he definitely is !@@deanwolfechannel
Long overdue! :-) Glad to see you finally get around to this one! And looking forward to your diving into Godbluff.
I love and reverence this masterpiece.
But it took me dozens of auditions to appreciate. It has a structure difficult to capture in few first times heard, but essential to appreciating the opus.
So, even if the listener is a genius, I doubt that someone is able to appreciate it the 1st time heard. He may only "see" little trees, but not the whole forest.
I think it is easy to be inundated by it on the first listen; the return of those opening chords and the absolute simplicity of the lyrics is flooring, especially if you know how complex he usually gets. Then you keep going back and you can get more and more, but it's easy to be knocked out of yourself in one listen.
Enjoyed this. If anyone new to Hammill wants some pointers to which albums to sample (he's done over 40), then there's a video on my own channel in which I select the top 10 albums. Meantime, this is a fine, albeit intense to the unfamiliar listener, song. And yes, Hammill is a genius.
Cool
This is the second reaction i see about this epic!
This is one of the few best songs i have ever heard since I'm into prog music!
Peter Hammill is worth the listening! Try more please.
Thank you and greetings from Germany 🫶🏼
Hi, I'm part German, family in tiengen-Freiburg etc
@progdogchannel cool. I live near Cologne. I've seen Peter Hammill 5 times in Bochum and Cologne, van der graaf one time in Leverkusen.
Loads of obvious but creative overdubbing, no holding back. Man at home in a studio.
I should mention that VDGG toured together with Genesis in the early 70s (Genesis supporting!) and many regard ‘Plague’ from Pawn Hearts as an inspiration for ‘Supper’s Ready’, which it predates by a couple of years.
Cool. I may do an album reaction to prawn hearts. Or at least a review.
@@deanwolfechannel Start with Godbluff. My favorite album with Still Life.
A typo - Pawn Hearts! Maybe a little shrimpy during Plague.
aha, prawn, pawn...I actually didn't catch that im such a newbie
Most of Hammill's lyrics are great. He helped through my life when I felt bad. Two of my favorites from him, concerning the lyrics, are Childlike Faith in Childhood's End, for the profoundness, and La Rossa for the love song that always touched me as I felt it in my heart and soul.
Here Peter plays piano and Banton is on bass. In fact this song is played by Van der Graaf Generator.
And Bowie was a fan of Hammill… as was Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistols… as was Peter Gabriel.
And yes do Godbluff totally. Arrow is even thicker in emotions (at least IMHO)
Thanjs for your words. I want to read more of his lyrics
He even published two books with his lyrics, they also contains a few short novels. Worth reading…
@@deanwolfechannel
Listen to «Over», and whatever bad break-up you had yourself you feel better compared to Hammill 😊
thanks to reacting to Hammill! I fancy many songs of him... and I recommend 'Celebrety Kissing' or any of the same album called The Noise. Thank you!
I love the Noise. A top Hammill album, although from a later period.
Yes, the Noise is super. And This, and Roaring 40s.
@@talastra I agree completely. I'm not too much into his latest production, but maybe I didn't give it enough time ?!
@@Rowenband Which of his latest production? I've not been devoutly keeping up. However, if a 70+ is still creating art, that gives me inspiration on a couple of axes :)
@@talastra Thats right. The 2 last I really bought and listened are Consequences (2012) and From the trees (2017). The songs are still worth listening and his voice great. But, IMHO, no masterpieces amongst them…
A LOUSE IS NOT A HOME è una grande composizione di PETER HAMMILL ma dire che è la più grande in assoluto della storia del progressive rock...... calma, è vero che è molto poetica intensa e a tratti accappona la pelle, tutto VERO !!!!!!!! Ma ve ne sono anche molte altre sia di HAMMILL e sia dei VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR e del PROGRESSIVE ROCK in generale!!!!!!!! Comunque sia A LOUSE IS NOT A HOME resta SENZA DUBBIO un CAPOLAVORO!!!!!!!!
mr Hammill's singing style is an acquired taste,once you were in you can't pull yourself out.
Van der graaf generator is my favorite band of all time and was my exit door from prog. Kinda make me realise that most of prog was a mistake with how little it was using the complexity for any emotions. VDGG and King Crimson both understood by getting away from it. Red from king Crimson and Godbluff from vdgg
To make it clear I still like prog its just.. I need to clarify sober
Interesting, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Lots of people abandoned prog but some like me came back😋
@@deanwolfechannel also both "a black room" ( from thr solo album right before) and " a louse is not a home" were originally supposed to be in tbe pawn heart album and the best hammill/vdgg song will always be " A plague of lighthouse keeper" from Pawn Heart
David Jackson's saxes & flute are superb on this track too; it's a shame that you didn't give him a mention.
I'm always actually caught off guard by what a good bassist Banton is. And GUy Evans gives it a completely righteous thump.
By way am near 60 but not born listening to Hamill. All this deserves so much more recognition, brilliant.
So funny the bass line grabbed you before the lyrics! Tx (liked the hug)
The best song on this album is ''The Lie'' in my opinion.
Been listening to this since 1982. How to choose, how to choose? My honorary choice has to be Louse but I love Wilhelmina.
❤
Closely followed by ''Forsaken Gardens''
Prog! Ok. But with years I use Art Rock. I think Hammill and VDGG are over FM radio band like Stix and Asia. Sometime closer than Punk or Jacques Brel (Bowie). A brillant introduction to the art of thinking.
This song reminds me of greenslade for some reason. van der graaf were a great band.
Greenslade, another band I should check out. Know their name for sure but not their music I don't think
Hard to comment whilst listening,says all.
My hair is standing on my neck and forearms. Make sure you don't miss the live version on the Swiss TV here on RUclips.
ruclips.net/video/dHBEJ0dR7cE/видео.html
Check Nadir, response to Bowie's Ziggy. Hilarious.
Finally, the great, more unknown and weirder pieces. I have been waiting for such for a long time. Thanks to the suggestor and of course to you, dear Dean.
One of the best prog songs, yes. But the very best? I think the literature is too good, too huge and too diverse to say.
There is Tull's A Passion Play - the quintessential prog work. Unmatchable. Even better than Thick as a Brick, imo, though a much more acquired taste. We have incredible bands like Crimson, Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant, Tull... and with VDGG/PH I find Childlike Faith in Childhood's End maybe even better than Louse.
...And those were just some of the 70s.
Concerning the lyrics I agree : Childlike Faith in Childhood's End
Putting the two songs "Still Life" and "Childlike Faith" together is probably the most existentially complete statement in the history of music. I can get overenthusiastic sometimes. I wouldn't argue against the idea that either song are not superior to Louse; I'd only say that they have different things to say, and sometimes the ridiculously amazing introspection of Louse can be a more satisfying journey than Still Life and Childlike Faith. I would never say any one of these songs should be off the "essential" list :)
100% agreed👍 The whole Still Life is one of the best prog albums for me as I could add La Rossa and Pilgrims. But Silent Corner with Louse is just as great. A masterpiece. Tremendous! Same category for me is Black Room. Also Man-Erg... Depends on my mood.
@@phraenxYes our own mood is essential to how we feel about some songs, especially when it's Hammill
Indeed👍, there are always two (at least) sides in music, esp. prog.
The artistic/technical aspect, which is accessible to analysis and allows a "value judgment". And the emotional/psychological part, which depends a lot on our moods, experiences and views. These two are partly related and both are important.
So there is technically perfectly played music that leaves me absolutely cold and on the other hand very simple songs that touch me deeply. And there are pieces where both apply. Those are the best for me.
I can find that in many 70s prog. But then, the 60s/70s were the times I grew up. Back then, we didn't just listen or consumed the music - we lived it.... What great times!
have you done , my room, magog in bromine chamber and the album fools mate yet, laters.
Be blown, listen to " in camera" " black box" " Nadirs last chance"
But... are you really sure considering this version instesad of the one on The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage? Anyway... such a great composition and one of the best vocal proof ever
I hope that you, after listening to Godbluff, will make a video about Sleepwalkers - maybe it is even better than A Louse...
Yeah go with Sleepwalkers if you haven't yet.
VDG and Genesis were on the same label - Charisma
And all.
Hola Dean. Recomendacion. DIVIDIDOS : song SABADO,Teatro Coliseo. Te va a encantar. Saludos
Hello!
hammill is a huge influence on nils from sleepytime gorilla museum, who are reuniting!
Oh really? That's cool. I like sgm
Nils is a fantastic singer. Through great good fortune I actually saw them live on the "Of Natural History" tour. I'm glad to hear SGM is getting together again. I haven't been wowed by the Salamander Exhibit.
Está más loco que Frank Zappa 😊👍
The best performance of this song was just Peter and a Piano ...
ruclips.net/video/dHBEJ0dR7cE/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/IMxOdeNKdXQ/видео.html
It’s too overwrought and a bit poorly recorded in part. Some of the words are extremely inventive as always and the singing is peerless. I don’t like nitpicking him but it doesn’t always work
Overwrought is what you get with Peter Hammill. After a while you come to love it.
The record is at least partially recorded at Sofa Sound, which is just Hammill's home studio.
LOL...Is this the first prog song you ever heard in your life? It may just be the worst VDGG song in their repertoire. Worse even than Theme One,--- Plague of Lighthouse Keepers, Childlike faith in childhoods end, Sleepwalkers, La Rossa, Still Life, Pioneers over C, Arrow, Undercover Man, Lemmings, ALL of them far better than A louse...Just sayin....
a blasphemy!!!