Customer Reviews

Fool's Mate

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Mr. Leimer has done an excellent job of describing what this album is all about - it really is amazing to be able to listen to these songs again after 30+ years (I bought the album on vinyl, when it was "new"!) with the remastered sound bringing out whole instrumental lines I hadn't been able to make out before.

The remaster definitely makes my re-purchase of this CD worthwhile - aside from what might some audiophiles might describe as an occasional, mild "over-brightness" to the sound, I am amazed at how good this sounds - brilliant! Since Robert Fripp (electric guitarist of King Crimson fame) is all over these recordings, it's especially nice to be able to hear some of his contributions in the background that I had missed before.

The demo versions included as bonus tracks are quite well-recorded (for demos, especially) and do give insight into the development of the songs - very enjoyable.

Now that it's available domestically for far less than it cost as an import, it's doubly worth your money (and you get the import manufacture anyway - they just imported this disc as well as the Van der Graaf remasters and sell them as domestic).

Very highly recommended.

You have to assume that when Peter Hammill sits down to write music, he has something specific in mind. But, then again, music has a way of making a number of decisions all on its own. Fool's Mate is a set of famously "orphaned" songs, written before and during the original Van der Graaf Generator days that simply did not fit the VdGG style. They are odd even beyond that because this record proves not to be a precursor to "Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night" or any other Hammill solo album, with the possible exception of the short pop song forms found on "Nadir's Big Chance".

Which means, absent even of a Rikki Nadir-like theme, Fool's Mate is really just a collection of great songs, performed with Hammill's characteristic sense of urgency and reflection. What's shocking is just how good they really are, especially considering how early we are in Hammill's career. The observations are typically simpler and more direct than much of his later work, yet sacrifice no insight or originality. Some, like "Summer Song in the Autumn" are quite simply beautiful in both sentiment and presentation. Others might now seem perhaps a bit juvenile -- "I once wrote some poems" was all depth and pain when I first heard it some 30 years ago, today it sounds somewhat affected -- but all in all the music and lyrics hold up remarkably well even when compared to the vast and uniformly remarkable corpus of Hammill's work. Compared to just about anything else, these songs will never come up short.

As for the sound quality, the remastering reveals layers of instruments and voices that weren't even accessible on the original import vinyl, at least not on my stereo at the time. Which is even further proof of the growth in arranging and performing that Hammill and the lads were experiencing during one of their most productive periods. The results are all there to hear. Still the Purest Pop for Now People, even back then.

"Each of us suffers his own spirit: a few of us are later released to wander at will through broad Elysium, the joyous fields; until, in the fullness of time ... nothing is left but pure ethereal sentience and the pure flame of the spirit." [Virgil, Aeneid 6.742].

"Cadmus, in vain you travel round and round ... You seek a bull which no cow ever calved; you seek a bull which no mortal knows how to find ... Europa's bridegroom no drover knows how to drive ... he is ordered by no whip...he strains his neck for Love alone ..." [The Pythian priestess to Cadmus. Nonnos, Dionysiaca 4.293]

Peter Hammill has always bestowed upon listeners references of eternal restlessness, a search for that essence that we call "human" and all the uneasiness that accompanies the actualization
within our worldly experience. Along with his body of work with VDGG, Hammill's work has been the veracious conjunctive force that requires total attention from each perceiver.
Shortly after the demise of VDGG#2 in 1971, Hammill took to the studio with songs that had collected dust from as far back as 1966 and proceded to put them to tape before becoming a mere non reflection of posterity.
"Fools Mate" represents the more melodious side of his body of work, with hints of what lie ahead in the coming years, solo as well as with reconfigured versions of VDGG.

This 2005 remastered edition restores and reveals many of the intricate details that eluded many listeners for years and the added bonus tracks allow us to listen to imagined arrangments with the VDGG rehearsal for a possible aborted VDGG effort.
What is an added attraction to the complete package are the detailed liner notes, along with lyrics, that complete the picture that left me guessing since it's 1971 vinyl introduction as to who played on what track and what was talking place within the specific time period.

This was perhaps, Hammill's only bid for a more commercial friendly introduction with songs such as "Reawakening","Candle" and "Imperial Zepplin" appealing to the more rock oriented listener. With "Vision", Hammill composed the most detailed and intimate taste of what true love between human beings can become once realised while singing them with the conviction of one who's looked inside the soul:

"Be my child, be my lover,
swallow me up in your fire-glow.
Take my tongue, take my torment,
take my hand and don't let go.
Let me live in your life,
for you make it all seem to matter.
Let me die in your arms,
so the vision may never shatter.
The seasons roll on;
my love stays strong".

What "Fools Mate" reveals in perceptiveness and sensation would set him forever apart from his contempories and lay the course toward exploration into the abyss of the soul through musical expression. His journey continues well into the 20th century and, for those who've paid attention, for eternity.
5 stars for the excellent care in its rebirth in 2005.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.

In 1971 Peter Hammill of Van der Graaf Generator fame released his first solo record "Fool's Mate." Hammill's vocals, guitar, and keyboards alone would be enough to grab the more avant-garde progressive music connoisseur. With help from Robert Fripp (King Crimson), the exploration becomes more intriguing. Thanks to an excellent remastering job the nuances lost on the vinyl recording can be fully digested here.

"Fools Mate" will not take you into the same esoteric realm as a VDGG recording but it will show you the often-overlooked talent of Hammill and the influence he has had on a plethora of performers.

"Candle" with the acoustic-guitar sounding more alive and vibrant than ever (Thanks to the remaster) may have been suited to open the album.

"Happy" has a tremendous impact on the initial listening. Your ears are split on where to focus. One gravitates to the lyrics and how Hammill presents them, the other to the catchy instrumentation that is both fascinating and hypnotic.

Leave it to Peter to follow "Happy" with "Solitude." He conveys the message of isolation by changing not only his emotions but the listeners simultaneously.

"Sunshine" mixes some psychedelic, pop, and progressive sounds rolled into one terrific result. This is another track that you'll be tempted to press "REPEAT" on the CD player as it is about to land on the next song.


If you encompassed his solo career output, you could understand that his compositions and vocal style with their unique textures are not far removed from certain David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Roxy Music, and Talking Heads tunes.

Please make sure the version you purchase is the remastered with the five bonus tracks (Early demos). Two of which "Sunshine" and "Happy" are imperative now that they have been unearthed.


Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

best listened to via headphones to capture the variety and depth of imagination displayed in the musical arrangements .This selection is more accessible than VDGG , but stiil has the scope and progressive nature of VDGG

Or was it the second? The first Van der Graaf Generator album 'Aerosol Grey Machine' (1969) had in fact been intended as a Peter Hammill solo record but, for contractual reasons, was finally released under the band's name. 'Fool's Mate' released in '71 was eagerly awaited as the first taste of Hammill alone - although the album in fact had all of VdGG playing on it as well as some members of two other popular bands of the time: Rod Clements and Ray Jackson from stablemate Charisma band Lindisfarne; and Robert Fripp from King Crimson. The songs were early ones written by a teenage Hammill, who explained in his sleeve notes: 'This isn't intended to be any kind of statement of my present musical position, but at the same time it is an album which involved a great deal of me, the person, being basically a return to roots. The songs are, for the most part, three to four years old, and were written in the formative years of Van der Graaf, some of them were originally played by the band in its early days and forms. This is, therefore, an album of songs rather than musical extravaganzae, and as such is dedicated to all the people who encouraged/energised them at the time they were written, who have shed new light on them since, and all those who helped in the making of the album, directly or indirectly.' Simple, memorable, uncomplicated tunes are the keynote here and the album features two of Hammill's most enduring songs: 'Vision' and 'The Birds' both of which he still plays live today. In fact,the album still sounds as fresh and exciting as it did when it was first released - upbeat, a little naive perhaps, and very playful. In other words, a true pop record. One track, rather uncharacteristically for Hammill, was even entitled 'Happy'. Two contemporary reviews still sum the spirit of the album up well. Pat Kaley in the Sussex Express commented: 'Peter Hammill, the singer and writer for Van der Graaf, has emerged with what is quite likely the head rock album of the year.' The Melody Maker's Roy Hollingworth was also a convert: 'Songs, yes, songs that have been in Peter's head for some time which have just had to be laid down...they stand up on their own, good, high and proud.' This reissue includes half-a-dozen stripped-down demos. Purchase? Foolish not to, mate.

This is one of five lp's i would have if i was deserted on an island
Probably one of the greatest records of all time for any style of music. The songs as explained are older but a who who's of musicians appear to add their talents to the fold including Bob Fripp and Nic Potter. Beautiful cover, very beautiful music.

As others have aleady stated this is the one to have for the clarity in remastering, bonus tracks and excellent liner notes. I love the remastered Hammill releases coming out. They have been well done. I am also a vinyl lover and play Hammill on the turntable as well. Sonically Hammill sounds best on vinyl to me but the remastered series do sound superb.

Hammills first release is a pleasant listening experience. Unique in his vast canon, it is sometimes medieval souding, sometimes pretty, sometimes austere, and consistently enthralling. Some say it is dated sounding now however I would argue it has aged well. Perhaps it is one of his most accessable.

A few highlights: "Candle" majestically hooks me. "Vision" chills my spine with its emotional outpouring to another. "Child" haunts me with Hammills beautiful voice and lyrics. "Summer Song in the Autumn" sweeps me along into this musical world unfolding. The poetic apex of Fools Mate is found in "The Birds". It's my metaphorical favorite. Followed up with the angst of "I Once Wrote Some Poems". The final cut is a fitting end to this release and comes with a bite.

This is one of those releases I would recommend to a Hammill novice, however be warned that it is unique sounding amongst his releases. I find this one more "listener friendly" than most Hammill releases for the uninitiated. For one already the Hammill fan, this is essential!