Everyone You Hold [Import]

Peter Hammill | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 2, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Fie
• ASIN: B000024UPB
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #703,936 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Everyone You Hold

2. Personality

3. Nothing Comes

4. From the Safe House

5. Phophorescence

6. Falling Open

7. Bubble

8. Can Do

9. Tenderness

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hammill at his soul-searching best, March 18, 1999

By 

Charlotte Hendry (Bath, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everyone You Hold (Audio CD)

If you are at all famialiar with Hammill's work you will be interested to know that this album is a bit like a cross between "Fireships" and "And Close as This" in that the general mood is calm and intimate. If you are new to Hammill, this could well be the album for you if you are after something of a gentle introduction to this hugely prolific and acclaimed artist. Don't, however, expect entirely "easy" listening. Although there is a calmness to most of the tracks here there is often an undercurrent of something more threatening too; "Bubble" in particular shifts from the pastoral to the ominous within the space of a bar. Having said that, you will find much beauty on this album. "From the Safe House" and "Phosphorescence" are achingly gorgeous, with sumptuous washes of sound created from various strings, keyboards, electric guitars and Hammill's trademark ethereal layers of backing vocals - courtesy of two of his daughters on the latter track. Meanwhile, "Nothing Comes" and "Tenderness" are deceptively simple piano ballads. Hammill has an undeserved reputation for being a miserable doom-merchant with an unpleasant voice. Well, nothing like that is evident here. The overall tone of the lyrics is realistic but positive (Hammill is one of the best living lyricists, often matching recognised poets for quality), and the voice is rich, tender and sensual. But it's the music that leaves the strongest impression here: it's moving, atmospheric and stimulating. And there are some great tunes, too!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spacious and Melodic, March 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everyone You Hold (Audio CD)

This album marks, for me, the third exceptional Hammill release in a row (the others being "The Roaring Forties" and "X My Heart", so purchase those as well). Songs appear like little islands amongst continuous soundscapes. The soundscapes are reflective of the mood of the preceding and succeeding songs. The songs themselves are extremely melodic, with exceptional lyrical content. Most lean toward the calmer nature of Hammill, although there are some wonderfully menacing moments, such as the superb "Bubble" where Hugh Banton (friends from their Van der Graaf Generator days) joins in on gothic organ. The song "Phosphorescence" should have been a huge hit single. Not that it is blatantly commercial. It is just absolutely breathtaking!

Many friends guest on this album and one song, "Personality" is a collaboration with Hilary Hammill, Peter's wife. Also, Hammill's daughters sing beautiful harmony vocals on "Phosphorescence".

I highly recommend this album to converts and newcomers alike. You won't be disappointed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, yet passionate masterpiece, September 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Everyone You Hold (Audio CD)

"Everyone you hold" is a very thoughtful and thought-provoking album, one that you could qualify as a BeCalm album, like the earlier "Fireship". There is, however, more passion involved, both lyrically and musically, than you would expect from such a quiet description. The album opens with the title song, which sets the introspective mood of the album. One of the major themes of the album is brought forward rather explicitely in the second song "Personality". What constitutes our personality? What glues together the shards of our behaviour, thoughts, feelings that are evoked by different kinds of situations? Not an everyday topic for a song, but Hammill manages to steer clear of pompous philosophy or meaningless statements, and gives us a complex, strangely beautiful song. The highlights of this masterpiece are From the Safe House, Phosphorence and Bubble. Listen for yourself, and give it your utmost attention. It is certainly worth it!